Tutorial 1 Name- Josephine Bakewa ID- A00224059

1. What is a fluid. How does it differ from a solid? How does a gas differ from a liquid? A
substance in the liquid or gas state is known as a fluid. Solids and fluids differ from each other
based on its ability to resist shear force that tends to change its shape. For instance, a solid can
resist shear force by deforming its shape up to a certain point however fluids under shear force
never stop deforming. In gases, individual molecules are widely spaced, free to move and
cohesive forces between them are small whereas in liquids groups of molecules can move
relative to each other, strong cohesive forces are present between molecules.
2. Define internal, external and open channel flows. Internal flow- flow of fluid that is bounded by
a solid surface. External flow- fluid that flows unbounded over a surface. Open channel flow-
flow of fluid through a channel with a free surface.
3. Define incompressible flow and incompressible fluid. Must the flow of a compressible fluid
necessary be treated as compressible? Incompressible flow refers to flow in which density
remains constant. Incompressible fluid refers to gases or liquids whose density is independent of
pressure, the flow of a compressible fluid like air may not necessarily be treated as compressible
since the density of such may remain nearly constant during flow at low speed.
4. Consider the flow of air over the wings of an aircraft. Is this flow internal or external? How
about the flow of gases through a jet engine? The flow of air over the wings of an aircraft is
external flow since the air is unbounded over the wing surface whereas the flow of gases in a jet
engine is internal since the fluid is bounded.
5. What is forced flow? How does it differ from natural flow? Is flow caused by winds natural or
forced flow? Forced flow is when fluid is forced over a surface or through pipe using mechanical
means such as pumps or fan, natural flow on the other hand is where fluids move due to natural
means. For instance, the buoyancy effect found in nature whereby warmer and lighter air rises
and cooler air falls. Wind flow, is natural flow for the Earth however for man-made structures
like houses it is forced flow.
6. How is the Mach number of a flow defined? What does a Mach number of 2 indicate? The
Mach number is defined as the ratio of flow speed to the speed of sound. An object that is
travelling at Mach number of 2 is said to be hypersonic and moving at twice the speed of sound,
7. When an airplane is flying at a constant speed relative to the ground, is it correct to say that
the Mach number is also constant? No the Mach number is not constant because the speed of
sound varies on pressure, temperature and the Mach number will vary according to surrounding
conditions (altitude, humidity etc.)
8. Consider the flow of air at a Mach number of 0.12. Should this flow be approximated as being
incompressible? Gas flows can be approximated as incompressible if density changes are under
5 percent, that is usually the case when Mach number is less than 0.3. Therefore, a flow of Mach
number 0.12 is approximated as incompressible
9. What is the no-slip condition? What causes it? This occurs when a fluid in direct contact with a
solid surface sticks to the surface and there is no slip. The viscosity of the fluid is responsible for
this behaviour.
10. What is a boundary layer, what causes a boundary layer to develop? The region of flow in
which the velocity gradients and frictional effects are important. It is caused by the no-slip
condition
11. What is a steady flow process? A process is said to be steady if it involves no changes with time,
within the system or at its boundaries.
12. Stress- force per unit area. Normal stress- normal component of force acting on a surface per
unit area. Shear stress- tangential component of force acting on a surface per unit area.
Pressure- the normal stress of a fluid at rest is known as pressure.
13. A system- a region in space chosen for study. Surrounding- region outside the system. Boundary-
real or imaginary surface that keeps system apart from surrounding
14. Close system- consists of a fixed mass where the mass is not allowed to cross its boundary
however energy can cross the boundary
15. Closed system- consists of a fixed amount of mass, whereby no mass can cross its boundary, but
energy in the form of heat can cross the boundary and the volume does not have to be fixed.
Control volume- when both energy and mass exchange with its surroundings.