The temperature distribution within a laminar thermal boundary layer associated with flow over an isothermal flat plate is shown in the sketch. The temperature distribution shown is located at x = x2.
(a) Is the plate being heated or cooled by the fluid?
(b) Carefully sketch the temperature distributions at x = x1 and x = x3. Based on your sketch, at which of the three x-locations is the local heat flux largest? At which location is the local heat flux smallest?
(c) As the free stream velocity increases, the velocity and thermal boundary layers both become thinner. Carefully sketch the temperature distributions at x = x2 for (i) a low free stream velocity and (ii) a high free stream velocity. Based on your sketch, which velocity condition will induce the larger local convective heat flux?