FLUID MECHANICS

(Note: you can access an exquisite discussion on this topic online. Watch the world renowned Physicist, Walter Lewin, explain the basics of fluid dynamics via: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=265icrI3HkM and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngABxM7jl0Q Fluids are materials that can flow which include both gases and liquids. Fluid statics is the study of fluids that are at rest or equilibrium condition Fluid dynamics is the study of fluids in motion

FLUD STATICS
A. Density mass per unit volume denoted by the Greek letter rho ()

Homogeneous materials would have the same density all throughout A convenient way to compare densities is to use the concept of specific gravity. Specific gravity of a material is the ratio of its density to the density of water at 4.0C 1000 kg/m3. It is a pure number without units.

B. Pressure and Depth in a Static Fluid normal force (that is, perpendicular force ) applied to a particular area

the SI unit is pascal (Pa) which is equivalent to 1N applied to a 1 m2 area (1 N/m2). Other units used to measure pressure are bar (1 bar = 105 Pa) and atmosphere (1 atm = 1.013 x 105 Pa) When a fluid is at rest in a container, all portions of the fluid must be in static equilibrium and all points at the same depth would have the same pressure If we want to know the pressure at point below the surface of a fluid (say, y2 in the diagram), then we must consider the pressure applied by the atmosphere on the fluid and the pressure exerted by all the fluids above it. Hence, assuming that the density of the fluid is the same all throughout, the pressure at point y2 is given by:

C. Pascals Principle This principle states that a change in pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted undiminished to every point of the fluid and to the walls of the container. (Meaning, the magnitude of the pressure applied at one point of a fluid will be experienced by each and every part of the fluid unchanged.)

D. Archimedes Principle Buoyancy is a phenomenon wherein a body immersed in water (or other fluid) seems to weigh less than when it is in air.

FLUID DYNAMICS
Fluid flow can be laminar or turbulent. Laminar flow or steady flow happens when the velocity of the fluid particles are the same at any point as time passes. When the velocities of the fluid particles change in time we say that the fluid has an unsteady flow. Extreme kind of unsteady flows are called turbulent. Steady fluid flow is represented using streamlines. Fluid flow can be compressible or incompressible. Incompressibility means that the density of the fluid remains almost constant as the pressure changes. Most liquids are nearly incompressible while gases are mostly compressible. Fluid flow can be viscous or nonviscous. Viscous flow happens when the fluid flows in an unhindered manner with no dissipation of energy. Ideal fluids are incompressible and viscous.

A. Equation of Continuity The mass flow rate (Av) has the same value at every position along the tube that has a single entry point and single exit point for fluid flow. Hence for two points along a tube:

Usually means that the velocity of the fluid becomes faster as the cross section of the tube becomes smaller. Ideal fluids have the same density all throughout hence the density () gets cancelled out. (This is an exception rather than a rule!) Direct consequence of the conservation of mass.

B. Bernoullis Equation Since the velocity of a fluid varies for a tube with varying cross-section, we expect that the pressure on those points will also change. This changes are governed by Bernoullis Equation

This is a direct consequence of the Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy (COME) When flow is horizontal (y1 = y2), Bernoullis equation indicates a higher fluid speed are associated with lower fluid pressure