The Equations of Change

for Isothermal Systems

Differential Equations of Continuity
• Fluid flow problems require overall mass,
energy and momentum balances within a
control volume
• Control volume – arbitrary finite volume in
consideration wherein the balance is
constructed
• Equations of change – describe the variation
of fluid properties with respect to position and
time
 Types of time derivatives
• Partial time derivatives – local change in property
𝜕𝜌
with time at a fixed point (x,y,z); i.e.,
𝜕𝑡
• Total time derivative – change in property with
time as fluid move about the stream with
velocities in the x, y and z directions
𝑑𝜌 𝜕𝜌 𝜕𝜌 𝑑𝑥 𝜕𝜌 𝑑𝑦 𝜕𝜌 𝑑𝑧
= + + +
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑧 𝑑𝑡
• Substantial time derivatives – change in property
with time as observer floats with velocity 𝐯 of the
flowing stream
𝐷𝜌 𝜕𝜌 𝜕𝜌 𝜕𝜌 𝜕𝜌 𝜕𝜌
= + 𝑣𝑥 + 𝑣𝑥 + 𝑣𝑥 = + 𝐯 ⋅ 𝛻𝜌
𝐷𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑡
Differential equation of continuity
• A balance for a pure fluid flowing through
volume element ΔxΔyΔz

rate of mass in − rate of mass out

= rate of mass accumulation
 𝜕𝜌
• 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = ∆𝑥∆𝑦∆𝑧
𝜕𝑡
• Making the balance and dividing ∆𝑥∆𝑦∆𝑧:

• Taking the limits as ∆𝑥, ∆𝑦 and ∆𝑧 approach

zero, we obtain the equation of continuity or
conservation of mass for a pure fluid:
• Carrying out partial differentiation and rearranging:

𝐷𝜌
• Left is the def of :
𝐷𝑡

• At constant density:
Continuity equation in cylindrical coordinates
• It is often convenient to use cylindrical
coordinates if fluid is flowing in a cylinder
 Equation of motion
• Equation of motion is the equation for the
conservation of momentum:
• We make a balance by each direction and
component by component
• X-component
– Net convective x-momentum flow:

– Net momentum by molecular transfer:

– Net fluid pressure force:

– Gravitational force:
• Rate of accumulation of momentum:

• Dividing by ΔxΔyΔz and taking the limit as

ΔxΔyΔz approach zero:
• Same derivation for y and z components:
• Plugging in the continuity equation:

• Adding vectorially, we obtain an equation of

motion for a pure liquid:
• At constant density and viscosity, yields the
Navier-Stokes equation:

• If fluid is ideal or inviscid (constant density

and zero viscosity, yields Euler Equation:

– At very high Reynolds Number, viscous forces are

quite small
 Use
• Analyses of fluid motion, esp at turbulent
regions and for past immersed bodies
• Determination of stress and velocity
distribution
• Predict behaviours of fluid and generate
models describing streamlines and eddy
formations