Fluid Mechanics Reviewer Updated
Fluid Mechanics Reviewer Updated
Based on University Physics with Modern Physics, 14th Edition (Hugh D. Young)
---
1. Density (ρ)
Formula:
ρ=m/V
where:
- ρ: density (kg/m³)
- m: mass (kg)
- V: volume (m³)
Examples:
- Water has a density of 1000 kg/m³
- Air at sea level has a density of about 1.225 kg/m³
- Lead is much denser, around 11,340 kg/m³
Importance: Knowing the density helps determine if an object will float or sink in a fluid and
is essential in calculating buoyant force, pressure, and fluid behavior.
---
2. Mass (m)
Definition: Mass is the amount of matter in an object, independent of its location or gravity.
Unit: Kilograms (kg)
Importance: Mass is used to calculate density, weight, and other physical properties. It
remains constant regardless of location (Earth, Moon, etc.).
---
3. Volume (V)
---
4. Weight (W)
Importance: Weight affects the pressure an object exerts on a surface and plays a role in
buoyancy calculations.
---
5. Force in Fluids
In fluids, forces arise due to pressure acting over an area. These forces can act in all
directions and are responsible for fluid flow, pressure transmission, and buoyant force.
The net force on a submerged object is due to the difference in pressure between the top
and bottom surfaces. This difference creates the buoyant force.
---
6. Pressure (P)
Definition: Pressure is the amount of force applied per unit area. It describes how
concentrated a force is on a surface.
Formula:
P=F/A
where:
- P: pressure (Pascal, Pa)
- F: force (N)
- A: area (m²)
Pressure is a scalar quantity and always acts perpendicular to a surface in a fluid.
c. Absolute Pressure:
---
7. Pascal's Principle
Implication: You can multiply force using a hydraulic system. A small force applied to a
small piston can produce a large force on a larger piston.
Formula:
F₁ / A₁ = F₂ / A₂
where:
- F₁, F₂: input/output forces
- A₁, A₂: input/output areas (m²)
Applications:
- Hydraulic jacks/lifts
- Braking systems in vehicles
- Hydraulic presses used in manufacturing
Example: If a 10 N force is applied to a piston of area 0.01 m², and it lifts a piston of area
0.10 m², then:
F₂ = (A₂ / A₁) × F₁ = (0.10 / 0.01) × 10 = 100 N
---
8. Archimedes' Principle
Applications:
- Designing ships and submarines
- Hot-air balloons (buoyant force from air)
- Measuring density using overflow/displacement method
---
Key Concepts to Remember:
- Density determines whether objects float or sink and influences pressure in a fluid.
- Mass is constant and essential for calculating other fluid properties.
- Volume tells us how much space an object or fluid occupies.
- Weight changes with gravity and is crucial for buoyant force and pressure.
- Pressure increases with depth and is transmitted equally in all directions in a fluid.
- Pascal's Principle allows for force multiplication through hydraulics.
- Archimedes' Principle explains the upward buoyant force in fluids.
- Gauge vs Absolute Pressure: Absolute includes atmospheric; gauge is the difference.
Buoyant Force and Fraction Above Surface
When an object is floating in equilibrium in a fluid, the upward buoyant force equals the
object's weight.
This allows us to calculate how much of the object is submerged or above the fluid surface.
Key relationships:
- Buoyant Force (Fb) = weight of displaced fluid = ρfluid × Vsubmerged × g
- Weight (W) = m × g
ρfluid = w – w(app)
This is useful for estimating how much of a floating object (like an iceberg or wooden block)
is visible above the water.
milli: 1/1000
centi: 1/100