Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
MI 205: Fluid Mechanics Tutorial 1
Fluid Properties
1. The information on a can of pop indicates that the can contains 355 mL. The mass of a full
can of pop is 0.369 kg while an empty can weighs 0.153 N. Determine the specific weight,
density, and specific gravity of the pop and compare your results with the corresponding
values for water at 20 oC. Express your results in SI units.
2. The variation in the density of water with temperature T, in the range is given in the
following table :
Use these data to determine an empirical equation of the form ρ = C1 + C2 T + C3 T2 which
can be used to predict the density over the range indicated. Compare the predicted values
with the data given. What is the density of water at 42.1oC.
3. A simple and popular model for non-Newtonian fluids is the power-law:
𝑑𝑢
𝜏 ≈ 𝐶 ( )𝑛
𝑑𝑦
where C and n are constants fit to the fluid. Write the values of the exponent n for which the fluid is
(a) Newtonian; (b) Dilatant; and (c) Pseudoplastic. (d) Consider the specific model constant C = 0.4
N-sn/m2, with the fluid being sheared between two parallel plates. If the shear stress in the fluid is
1200 Pa, find the velocity V of the upper plate for the cases (d) n = 1.0; (e) n = 1.2; and (f) n = 0.8.
4. A solid cone of base r0 and initial angular velocity ω0 is rotating inside a conical seat. Neglect
air drag and derive a formula for the cone’s angular velocity ω(t) if there is no applied torque.
5. A shower head emits a cylindrical jet of clean 20°C water into air. The pressure inside the jet is
approximately 200 Pa greater than the air pressure. Estimate the jet diameter, in mm.
6. A solid cylindrical needle of diameter d, length L, and
density ρ may “float” on a liquid surface. Neglect
n
buoyancy and assume a contact angle of 0°. Calculate the
maximum diameter needle able to float on the surface.
7. A soap bubble of diameter D1 coalesces with another
bubble of diameter D2 to form a single bubble D3 with the same amount of air. For an isothermal
process, express D3 as a function of D1, D2, patm, and surface tension Y.