Which is NOT a characteristic of laminar flow?

Laminar flow is characterized by smooth, orderly fluid motion in parallel layers, where each layer slides past adjacent ones with minimal disruption. This results in a series of orderly layers that flow in a consistent pattern.

A key characteristic of laminar flow is the low turbulence present within these layers, meaning that the motion of the fluid is quite stable, and the interactions between the layers are predictable.

In terms of flow speed and behavior, laminar flow is defined by a consistent flow rate, meaning that the velocity of the fluid within each layer remains relatively constant over time, contributing to its smooth nature.

The characteristic of irregular speed does not apply to laminar flow; instead, such behavior is more typical of turbulent flow, where chaotic changes in speed can occur due to mixing and fluctuations in the flow. Hence, the presence of irregular speed distinctly identifies a flow that is not laminar.