Physics I (BAS 021)

Lectures by:
Nouran Salama, PhD in Geophysics
Lecture 4

Fluid Mechanics
1- Static Fluids
States of Matter
• Before we begin to understand the nature of a Fluid, we must understand the
nature of all the states of matter:
• The 3 primary states of matter are:
1. solid – Has a definite shape and volume.
2. liquid -Takes the shape of its container yet has a definite volume.
3. Gas – Has no definite shape or volume but takes the shape and volume of its
container.
• Special states:
1. Plasma.
2. Bose-Einstein Condensate.
 States of Matter

The time it takes a particular substance to change its shape in response to

an external force determines whether the substance is treated as a solid,
liquid or gas.
Density
Density Table
What is a Fluid?
• A fluid is a collection of molecules that are randomly arranged and held
together by weak cohesive forces and by forces exerted by the walls of a
container.
• A fluid is any material that is unable to resist a static shear stress. Unlike an
elastic solid which responds to a shear stress with a deformation, a fluid
responds with an irreversible flow.
• Fluid describes both gases and liquids. They both do not have a definite shape.
The Nature of Fluids
• The principal deference between liquids and gases is in their compressibility.
Gases can be compressed much more easily than liquids, but when the change
in density of a gas is small, it can often be treated as being incompressible.
• The stresses that act on a fluid particle can be split into normal stresses
(stresses that give rise to a force acting normal to the surface of the fluid
particle).
• Normal stresses tend to compress or expand the fluid particle without changing
its shape and tangential or shearing stresses (stresses that produce forces
acting tangential to its surface).
Why fluids are useful in physics?

• Typically, liquids are incompressible. That is once you place a liquid

in a sealed container you can DO WORK on the FLUID as if it were an
object. The PRESSURE you apply is transmitted throughout the
liquid and over the entire length of the fluid itself.
Fluids
• Fluids do not sustain shearing stresses or tensile stresses.
• The only stress that can be exerted on an object submerged in a static fluid is
one that tends to compress the object from all sides.
• The force exerted by a static fluid on an object is always perpendicular to the
surfaces of the object.

Fluid Static:
Describes fluids at rest
Fluid Dynamics:
Describes fluids in motion
Fluid Static
Pressure
Pressure
• Suppose a Fluid (such as a liquid) is at rest, we call this (Hydrostatic Pressure)

Two important points:

• A fluid will exert a pressure in all directions.
• A fluid will exert a pressure perpendicular to any surface it compacts.
• Notice that the arrows on TOP of the objects are smaller than at the BOTTOM.
This is because pressure is greatly affected by the DEPTH of the object. Since
the bottom of each object is deeper than the top the pressure is greater at
the bottom.
Pressure

• Variation of Pressure with Depth

• Fluids have pressure that varies with depth.
• If a fluid is at rest in a container, all portions of the fluid must be in
static equilibrium.
• All points at the same depth must be at the same pressure, otherwise,
the fluid would not be in equilibrium.
• This is independent of the shape of the container.
Pressure
Pressure and Depth
• Examine the darker region, a sample of liquid within a cylinder.
• It has a cross-sectional area A.
• Extends from depth d to d+h below the surface.
• The liquid has a density of r
• Assume the density is the same throughout the fluid.
• This means it is an incompressible liquid.
Pressure and Depth
A closer look at Pressure vs. Depth

P = Po + ρgh
Depth below surface

Initial Pressure – May or MAY NOT be atmospheric pressure

Absolute Pressure

∆P = ρgh
Gauge Pressure = CHANGE i th
CHANGE in pressure or the DIFFERENCE in the initial and absolute
pressure
Pascal’s Law:
Pascal’s Law, Example
•An important application of Pascal’s Law is a hydraulic
press.
•A large output force can be applied by means of a small
input force.
•The volume of liquid pushed down on the left must
equal the volume pushed up on the right.
•Since the volumes are equal,
A1Δx1 = A2Δx2
•Combining the equations,
F1Δx1 = F2Δx2 Other Applications for Pascal’s Law:
which means Work1 = Work2 •Hydraulic brakes
• This is a conception of Conservation of Energy. •Car lifts
•Hydraulic jacks
•Forklifts
Buoyancy - Buoyant Force

•The Buoyant Force is the upward force exerted by a

fluid on any submerged object.
•The object is in equilibrium.
•There must be an upward force to balance the
downward gravitational force.
•The magnitude of the upward (buoyant) force must
equal (in magnitude) the downward gravitational force.
•The Buoyant Force is the resultant force due to all
forces applied by the fluid surrounding the parcel.
Archimedes' Principle

•Archimedes' Principle states that “The magnitude of the buoyant force

always equals the weight of the fluid displaced by the object”.
•Archimedes' Principle does not refer to the makeup of the object
experiencing the buoyant force.
• The object’s composition is not a factor since the buoyant force is
exerted by the surrounding fluid.
Archimedes' Principle
Archimedes' Principle:
Totally Submerged Object

• An object is totally submerged in a fluid of density rfluid.

• The volume Vdisp of the fluid is equal to
• the volume Vobj of the object.
• The upward buoyant force is:
B = rfluid g Vobject
• The downward gravitational force is:
W or Fg = mg = robj g Vobj
• The net force is
B - Fg = (rfluid – robj) g Vobj
Archimedes' Principle:

a. If the density of the object is less than 1. Totally Submerged Object

the density of the fluid, the unsupported
object accelerates upward.
b. If the density of the object is more than
the density of the fluid, the unsupported
object sinks.
c. If the density of the submerged object
equals the density of the fluid, the
object remains in equilibrium.
•The direction of the motion of an object in
a fluid is determined only by the densities of
the fluid and the object.
Archimedes' Principle

2. Floating Object
Reference:
• College Physics, Eleventh Edition,
Raymond A. Serway and Chris Vuille