Life at Low Reynolds Number: Flagella Hydrodynamics and Blood Flow

This lecture delves into the hydrodynamics of flagella, modeling them as chains of small rods to understand how they propel cells forward. It explores the consequences of low Reynolds number flows and the drag forces involved in propulsion. Additionally, a simple model for blood flow in vessels is presented, considering factors like pressure difference and viscosity. The lecture also covers the concept of hydrodynamic resistance and how vessel dimensions affect the flow rate to maintain oxygen flux to organs.