Definitions
Pressure
Pressure is defined as the ‘force acting per unit area’.
Relative density or specific gravity:
The relative density of a substance is defined as the ratio of the density of a substance to the
density of water at 4 ºC.
Pascal’s law
If the pressure in a liquid is changed at a particular point, the change is transmitted to the entire
liquid without being diminished in magnitude.
Archimedes principle
when a body is partially or wholly immersed in a fluid, it experiencesan upward thrust equal to the
weight of the fluid displaced by it and its upthrust acts through the centre of gravity of the liquid
displaced.
upthrust or buoyant force = weight of liquid displaced.
Viscosity
‘the property of a fluid to oppose the relative motion between its layers’.
Streamlined flow
When a liquid flows such that each particle of the liquid passing through a point moves along the
same path with the same velocity as its predecessor then the flow of liquid is said to be a
streamlined flow. It is also referred to as steady or laminar flow.
Critical velocity
The flow of fluid is streamlined up to a certain velocity called critical velocity. This means a steady
flow can be achieved at low flow speeds below the critical speed.
Turbulent flow
When the speed of the moving fluid exceeds the critical speed, v the motion becomes turbulent. In
this case, the velocity changes both in magnitude and direction from particle to particle and hence
the individual particles do not move in a streamlined path.
Capillarity or capillary action
The rise or fall of a liquid in a narrow tube is called capillarity or capillary action.
Angle of contact
The angle between the tangent to the liquid surface at the point of contact and the solid surface
inside the liquid is known as the angle of contact between the solid and the liquid. It is denoted by θ
Terminal velocity V
The maximum constant velocity acquired by a body while falling freely through a viscous medium is
called the terminal velocity V
Capillarity
The rise or fall of a liquid in a narrow tube is called capillarity or capillary action.
Bernoulli’s theorem
According to Bernoulli’s theorem, the sum of pressure energy, kinetic energy, and potential energy
per unit mass of an incompressible, non-viscous fluid in a streamlined flow remains a constant.