According to Archimedes' Principle, a body submerged in a fluid experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. For a body to float, its weight must be less than the buoyant force. If the weight of the body is equal to the buoyant force, it will float being fully submerged. Conversely, if the body's weight exceeds the buoyant force, it will sink. This principle is crucial in understanding flotation and the equilibrium of submerged objects .

In fluid machines, the Venturimeter exemplifies the measurement of flow speed, using the principles of Bernoulli and the continuity equation. The Venturimeter consists of a narrowing throat through which the fluid flows. According to the continuity equation A₁v₁ = A₂v₂, a reduction in cross-sectional area (A) causes an increase in fluid velocity (v). Bernoulli's principle further explains that this increase in velocity reduces pressure. The pressure difference along the Venturimeter can be measured, enabling calculation of the flow speed using Bernoulli’s equation: P₁ + ½ρv₁² = P₂ + ½ρv₂², where ρ is fluid density. This setup allows engineers to accurately determine flow speeds, crucial for applications like water supply systems and chemical processing .

Surface tension is the force per unit length acting on the surface of a liquid, tending to minimize the surface area. It arises due to cohesive forces between liquid molecules and is responsible for phenomena like water droplets forming spheres and insects walking on water. Capillarity, or capillary action, is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without external forces and is influenced by surface tension. It is described by the formula h = 2Tcosθ / (ρgr), where h is the capillary rise, T is the surface tension, θ is the contact angle, ρ is the liquid density, g is acceleration due to gravity, and r is the tube radius. These phenomena significantly affect how liquids behave in small tubes and porous materials, influencing fields like medicine (blood flow in capillaries) and engineering (fuels in porous wicks).

Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to deformation and flow, arising from internal friction between the fluid's layers. It affects how fluids flow; higher viscosity implies greater resistance to flow, encountered in substances like honey compared to water. In fluid dynamics, viscosity influences the velocity profile of fluid flow, with high viscosity resulting in a relatively more pronounced parabolic profile in pipes. It also determines the drag experienced by objects moving through the fluid; for instance, automobiles and aircraft designs minimize viscous drag. Viscosity is crucial in engineering applications, including lubrication and weather patterns, due to its impacts on flow separation and energy dissipation .

Hydrostatic pressure in a fluid is calculated as P = ρgh, where ρ is the fluid density, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the depth below the fluid surface. This pressure increases linearly with depth due to the weight of the fluid above. It is independent of the container's shape because hydrostatic pressure only depends on the vertical depth and not on the horizontal dimensions or the container's sides. Hence, the same fluid at the same depth in different shaped containers will have the same pressure, dictated solely by the height of the fluid column above the point of measurement .

The Reynolds number (Re) is a dimensionless value used to predict the type of flow in fluid dynamics. It is calculated as Re = (ρvd)/η, where ρ is the fluid density, v is the velocity, d is the characteristic dimension, and η is the viscosity. A Reynolds number less than 2000 indicates laminar flow, characterized by smooth and orderly motion. If the Reynolds number exceeds 4000, the flow is turbulent, featuring chaotic eddies and vortices. Values between 2000 and 4000 suggest transitional flow, where the flow may shift between laminar and turbulent patterns. This criterion is instrumental for engineers in designing pipelines, aircraft, and optimizing flow control .

Stoke's Law defines the viscous drag force experienced by a spherical object moving through a fluid as F = 6πηrv, where F is the viscous force, η is the fluid's viscosity, r is the radius of the sphere, and v is the object's velocity in the fluid. This law applies to small, slowly moving spheres in a viscous medium and assumes laminar flow conditions. Key factors influencing this motion include the fluid's viscosity, the sphere's size (radius), and its velocity as it reaches terminal velocity, where the gravitational force and the buoyant force equal the drag force, resulting in no acceleration .

Bernoulli's equation, P + ½ρv² + ρgh = constant, shows that in a streamline, the sum of pressure (P), kinetic energy per unit volume (½ρv²), and potential energy per unit volume (ρgh) is constant for an incompressible, non-viscous fluid. As the velocity (v) of the fluid increases, the pressure (P) decreases, and vice versa. This principle explains phenomena such as the lift on airplane wings, where faster air flow over the top surface leads to lower pressure and thus creates lift. Additionally, it is used in devices like Venturi meters for measuring flow rates, atomizers for spraying liquids, and also has applications in understanding the blood flow in arteries .

The continuity equation in fluid dynamics expresses the principle of mass conservation in fluid flow, given by A₁v₁ = A₂v₂, where A is the cross-sectional area and v is the fluid velocity. For incompressible fluids, this equation implies that the volume flow rate remains constant along the flow path. Thus, if the area through which the fluid flows decreases, the velocity must increase, and vice versa. For compressible fluids, the density of the fluid may change, so the equation is adjusted to account for this, often requiring more complex analysis beyond the scope of this equation. The continuity equation is essential for understanding flow in ducts, pipes, and air passages .

Pascal's Law states that pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted undiminished in all directions throughout the fluid. This principle is utilized in hydraulic systems, such as brakes and lifts, where pressure applied at one point is transmitted to another point using an incompressible fluid. In hydraulic brakes, pressure created by the brake pedal is transmitted through the brake fluid, amplifying the force to apply the brakes at the wheel. Similarly, in hydraulic lifts, a small force applied at a narrow piston is transmitted through fluid, resulting in a larger force exerted by a wider piston—enabling the lifting of heavy loads .