A STUDENT’S SOLUTIONS MANUAL TO ACCOMPANY 

MECHANICS of FLUIDS,  
4TH EDITION, SI 
 

MERLE C. POTTER 
DAVID C. WIGGERT 
BASSEM H. RAMADAN 
 
 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 

STUDENT'S SOLUTIONS MANUAL 
 
 

TO ACCOMPANY 
 
 
 
 

MECHANICS of FLUIDS 
 

FOURTH EDITION, SI 

MERLE C. POTTER 
Michigan State University 
 
DAVID C. WIGGERT 
Michigan State University 
 
BASSEM RAMADAN 
Kettering University 
 Contents 
Preface                    iv 
 
Chapter 1    Basic Considerations          1 
 
Chapter 2   Fluid Statics              15 
 
Chapter 3   Introduction to Fluids in Motion        29 
 
Chapter 4   The Integral Forms of the Fundamental Laws    37 
 
Chapter 5   The Differential Forms of the Fundamental Laws    59 
 
Chapter 6   Dimensional Analysis and Similitude            77 
 
Chapter 7   Internal Flows                     87 
 
Chapter 8   External Flows                      109 
 
Chapter 9   Compressible Flow                      131 
 
Chapter 10  Flow in Open Channels                     141 
 
Chapter 11   Flows in Piping Systems                    161 
 
Chapter 12  Turbomachinery                      175 
 
Chapter 13  Measurements in Fluid Mechanics                           189 
 Preface for the Student 

This manual provides the solutions to the problems whose answers are provided at the end of our
book, MECHANICS OF FLUIDS, SI. In many cases, the solutions are not as detailed as the
examples in the book; they are intended to provide the primary steps in each solution so you, the
student, are able to quickly review how a problem is solved. The discussion of a subtle point,
should one exist in a particular problem, is left as a task for the instructor. In general, some
knowledge of a problem may be needed to fully understand all of the steps presented. This
manual is not intended to be a self-paced workbook; your instructor is critically needed to provide
explanations, discussions, and illustrations of the myriad of phenomena encountered in the study
of fluids, but it should give you considerable help in working through a wide variety of problems.

The degree of difficulty and length of solution for each problem varies considerably. Some are
relatively easy and others quite difficult. Typically, the easier problems are the first problems for
a particular section.

We continue to include a number of multiple-choice problems in the earlier chapters, similar to

those encountered on the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (the old EIT Exam) and the
GRE/Engineering Exam. These problems will provide a review for the Fluid Mechanics part of
those exams. They are all four-part, multiple-choice problems and are located at the beginning of
the appropriate chapters.

The examples and problems have been carefully solved with the hope that errors have not been
introduced. Even though extreme care is taken and problems are reworked, errors creep in. We
would appreciate knowing about any errors that you may find so they can be eliminated in future
printings. Please send any corrections or comments to MerleCP@att.net.We have class tested
most of the chapters with good response from our students, but we are sure that there are
improvements to be made.

East Lansing, Michigan Merle C. Potter

David C. Wiggert
Flint, Michigan Bassem Ramadan