In this module, we will we discuss about the fundamentals of fluid mechanics in a very
general manner so that you can understand the way that forces are produced and
transmitted by fluids that are, at rest and in motion. And to apply the physical principles
behind some of the most common applications of fluid mechanics in the conservation of
energy and Newton's laws of motion.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, the student should be able to:
1. Solve basic problems in fluid statics and kinematics.
2. Describe the characteristics of fluids at rest and in motion.
FLUIDS
are a substances that continually deforms (flows) under an applied shear stress, or external
force
Fluid mechanics is essentially the study of fluids either in motion or at rest.
PRESSURE (P)
is the ratio of normal force to area.
Although both force and area are vectors, pressure is a scalar quantity and has no
direction.
Pressure is a way to describe force in a region of a continuous system and has the
equation:
P=
Units:
The SI unit of pressure is the [Pa = N/m2 = kg/ms2].
One hundred thousand pascals are sometimes called
a [100,000 Pa = 1 bar].
Standard Atmospheric Pressure(atm) = 1.013 x 105 Pa
Hydrostatic Pressure
is the pressure that is exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within
the fluid, due to the force of gravity. It increases in proportion to depth
measured from the surface because of the increasing weight of fluid exerting
downward force from above.
is due to a column of fluid of height(h) and density( ), and has the equation:
P = gh, where g is the gravitational acceleration
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The figure on the left, shows the relationship of pressure to
the depth of the fluid.
Pressure in a fluid (P) at rest
is equal to the weight of a column of fluid divided by the area on which it rests,
so that
P = P0
increases uniformly with depth (h)
depends on the surface pressure (P0)
acts equally in all directions and therefore exerts a net force
perpendicular to any surface that it contacts
Pascal's principle (Blaise Pascal):
(liquid or gas) is changed, the pressure on every other part of the fluid is also changed
BUOYANCY (also known as the )
is the force exerted on an object that is wholly or partly immersed in a fluid.
The symbol for the magnitude of buoyancy is or
As a vector it must be stated with both magnitude and direction. Buoyancy acts
upward for the kind of situations encountered in everyday experience.
As with other forces, the SI unit of buoyancy is the newton [N].
Buoyancy is caused by differences in pressure acting on opposite sides of an
object immersed in a static fluid.
Typical situations:
The pressure on the bottom of an object is greater than the top
(since pressure increases with depth).
The force on the bottom pushes up and the force on the top pushes
down
(since force is normal to the surface).
The direction of the net force due to the fluid is upward.
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Archimedes' Principle: The magnitude of the buoyant force on an object is equal to the
weight of the fluid it displaces .
B= displaced
densities > = <
object rises float on surface
<
(wholly immersed ) (partly immersed)
neutral buoyancy
=
(wholly immersed)
> object sinks
Relationship of Buoyancy and density
VISCOSITY (also known as , , or )
Is represented by the Greek letter (eta).
defined informally as the quantity that describes a fluid's resistance to flow.
Factors Affecting Viscosity
a. Viscosity varies with material. (Viscosity is a property of materials.)
b. The viscosity of simple liquids decreases with increasing temperature and increases
under very high pressures.
c. The viscosity of gases increases with increasing temperature is independent of
pressure and density.
Fluid flow or discharge(J) : When a fluid that fills a pipe flows through the pipe
with an average speed v, the flow or discharge, J, is
J = Av
where A is the cross-sectional area of the pipe
The units of J are m 3/s in the SI
Sometimes J is called the rate of flow or the discharge rate.
EXAMPLES:
1. A partly filled beaker of water sits on a scale, and its weight is 2.30 N. When a piece of metal
suspended from a thread is totally immersed in the beaker (but not touching bottom), the scale
reads 2.75 N. What is the volume of the metal?
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2. Find the pressure due to the fluid at a depth of 76 cm in still (a) water (pw = 1.00 g/cm3) and
(b) mercury (p = 13.6 g/cm3).
3. Oil flows through a pipe 8.0 cm in diameter, at an average speed of 4.0 m/s. What is the flow J
in m3/s and m3/h?
ACTIVITY 8.1
Using the formatted paper, copy and answer (handwritten) completely the given questions
below. Take a picture of your whole paper and upload it in canvas on or before due date.
1. State as many as you can the applications of buoyancy and viscosity in:
a) your everyday life.
b) your chosen field of engineering.
2. A certain town receives its water directly from a water tower. If the top of the water in the
tower is 26.0 m above the water faucet in a house, what should be the water pressure at
the faucet?
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