Discussion

Based on the table 1 and 2, it can be observed that the differential height of
manometer will differs depending on the distance from the leading edge,x. The
differential height of manometer,y will be higher if the distance from the leading edge
is longer. This is proven as the data from the table 3 and 4 also showed the same
result. The free stream velocity also has the same respond as the differential height of
manometer. The shorter the distance from the leading edge, the lower the free stream
velocity. Both have the same relationship which is directly proportional to the
distance from the leading edge.

From the tables, it can also be seen that as the micrometer reading increases,the
velocity will also be higher. It does not matter whether it was a smooth plate or rough
plate, the relationship between micrometer reading and the velocity is directly
proportional against each other. However, when the micrometer reading reach a
certain level, the velocity has become the constant. The 99% of constant value is
actually the free stream velocity. Free stream velocity is the velocity far away from
any object or boundaries in the part of the flow that is not disturbed by any object or
boundaries.

Fro table 5, it can be seen that only the boundary layer thickness,δ have the same
value in each experiment for both experimental and the theoretical value. The other
value such as the displacement thickness, δ*, momentum thickness, θ and the shape
factor, H all have different value of theoretical and experimental for each case. All the
value of δ, δ*, θ and H for the smooth and the rough with the same x has the equal
value. However, all those value is different when it has different x.

From graph 1,both the value of μ/U for the smooth and rough surface for the x
with 0.06m increases until it reach to a certain value and it started to stay constant.
This shows that the graph between μ/U and y is proportional to each other. From the
graph 2, it can be seen that the graph for both smooth and rough surface will either
increase or constant until it reaches a certain value where both will be constant. For
the graph of y against µ/U (1-µ/U), both graph shows that the µ/U (1-µ/U) will
continue to decrease or stay constant until reaches a certain value. The last constant
value of μ/U for smooth and rough surface for both graph is the same. For the graph y
against µ/U (1-µ/U) for the 0.18m has the same last constant value for µ/U (1-µ/U)
but the last constant value of µ/U (1-µ/U) for the 0.06m is not the same.

Conclusion

In the nutshell, the experiment was conducted successfully. The objectives of the
experiment which are to plot the boundary layer velocity profile and observed the
growth of the boundary layer for the flat plate with smooth and rough surface, to
measure the boundary layer properties for the measured velocity profile and to study
the effect of surface roughness on the development of the boundary layer have all
been achieved. The experiment was conducted by having two different distance from
the leading edge for each smooth and rough surface. The reading was taken from the
manometer based on the micrometer reading. The boundary layer thickness,δ for each
experiment has the same value whereas the displacement thickness, δ*, momentum
thickness, θ and the shape factor, H all have different value of theoretical and
experimental. It can also be said said that the relationship between y with μ/U and µ/U
(1-µ/U) will have a directly proportional until it reaches a certain constant value.