MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS

Q. Define the term fluid.

Ans: Fluid is a substance that can flow.

Note- Both liquid and gases are fluids.

Ideal fluid:-
A fluid which is incompressible is called an
ideal fluid.
Q. Define the term hydrostatics.

Ans: The branch of physics in which the

equilibrium of objects is studied under the
influence of external forces and pressure of
liquid is called fluid statics or hydrostatics.
Q. Distinguish between the terms fluid statics
and fluid dynamics.

Ans:-
1. Fluid statics-
The branch of physics that deals with the
study of fluids at rest is called fluid statics
or hydrostatics.

1.
2. Fluid dynamics-
The branch of physics that deals with the
study of fluids in motion is called fluid
dynamics of hydrodynamics.

2.
Q. Define thrust and pressure.

Ans( ):
1. Thrust:-
The total force exerted by a liquid on any
surface in contact with it is called thrust.

1.
2. Pressure :-
The normal force exerted on a unit area of
the surface is called pressure.
2.

That is( ), P = F/A

SI unit (SI ) – N/m² or( ) Pascal(Pa)
1Pa = 1N/m2
Note-
The unit of pressure, pascal(Pa) has been
named in the honor of a great French
Scientist and Philosopher Blaise Pascal.
Pa
Q. Define density and Specific gravity or
relative density.
Ans( ):
1. Density :-
Mass per unit volume of the substance is
called density of the substance.
It is denoted by r.

1.

That is( ), r = M/V

2. Specific gravity or relative density :-
The ratio of the density of the substance to
the density of water at 4ºC is called specific
gravity or relative density of a substance.
2.
4ºC
 density of the substance
That is, Specific gravity = density of water

, =
Note:-
Specific gravity has no unit. It is a number. The
maximum density of water at 4ºC is 1000kg/m³.

4ºC 1000kg/m³
Q. State Pascal’s law of transmission of fluid
pressure. Give the theoretical proof for it.
Ans( ):
It can be stated in the following equivalent ways:

1. The pressure exerted at any point on an

enclosed liquid is transmitted equally in all
directions.

1.
2. A change in pressure applied to an enclosed
incompressible fluid is transmitted
undiminished to every point of the fluid and
the walls of the containing vessel.

2.
3. The pressure in a fluid at rest is the same at
all points if they are at the same height.
3.
 Or( )
According to this law, the pressure applied to an
enclosed liquid is transmitted undiminished to
every portion of the liquid and the walls of the
containing vessel.
Theoretical proof( )-
Consider a vessel containing liquid and fitted
with four frictionless pistons A,B,C and D of
different area of cross sections A1 , A2 ,A3 and A 4
respectively as shown in figure.
A
,B , C D A1 , A2
,A3 A4
Let a force F1 be applied to push the pistion A.
F1 A

Hence pressure applied on piston A =

A =
According to Pascal’s law, pressure is transmitted
equally in all directions.
Therefore, it is found that the pistons B, C and D
can be held in their respective positions if we
apply forces F2 , F3 and F4 such that

B ,C D
F2 , F3 F4
Which is Pascal’s law.
Hydraulic machines( ):-
The devices which work on Pascal’s law are
known as hydraulic machines.
Examples- hydraulic lift, hydraulic press,
hydraulic brakes etc.
1. Hydraulic lift -
1.
2. hydraulic brakes-
2.
Q. Show that the pressure exerted by a liquid
column is proportional to its height and the
density of the liquid.
Ans( ):
Consider a vessel of height h and cross-sectional
area A filled with a liquid of density r.
h A
r
Weight of the liquid column( ),

W = mass of the liquid( )xg

= volume( ) x density( )xg
= Ah x r x g
Pressure exerted by the liquid column on the
bottom of the vessel is
Q. Discuss the variation of fluid pressure with
depth.
Ans( ):
Consider a liquid at rest in a vessel. Imagine a
cylindrical element of the liquid of cross-section
area A and height h.
A
h
Let P1 and P2 be the liquid pressure at its top point
and bottom point respectively.

P1 P2
Force due to the liquid pressure at the top,
F1 = P1A, acting downwards

F1 = P1A,

Force due to the liquid pressure at the bottom,

F2 = P2A, acting upwards

F1 = P1A,
Weight of the liquid cylinder acting downwards,

W = mass ( ) x g
= volume( ) x density( )xg
= Ah x r x g
= Ahrg
Where r is the density of the liquid.
r
Since liquid cylinder is in equilibrium,

Hence( )
Net downward force = Net upward force
 F1 + W = F2
Or( ) F2 - F1 = W
Or( ) P2A - P1A = Ahrg

Or( ) P2 - P1 = hrg ……… (i)

If we shift top point to the liquid surface, which is
open to the atmosphere, then we can replace P1
by atmospheric pressure Pa and P2 by P in
equation (i)

P1 Pa
P2 P (i)

P - Pa = hrg
Or( ) P = Pa + hrg
gauge pressure( )
Gauge pressure( )-
The difference between the absolute
pressure and atmospheric pressure is called
the gauge pressure(PG).

PG
That is( ), P - Pa = hrg
Hydrostatic paradox( )-
The pressure exerted by a liquid column
depends only on the height of the liquid
column and not on the shape of the
containing vessel. This fact is called
hydrostatic paradox.
Atmospheric pressure( )-
The pressure exerted by the atmosphere is
called atmospheric pressure.
It is numerically equal to the(
)-
The force exerted by air column of air on a
unit area of the earth’s surface is equal to
the atmospheric pressure.
It is denoted by Pa.
Pa

Pa = 1.013 x 105 Pa.

Q. Describe the mercury barometer for
measuring atmospheric pressure. or
Describe Torricelli’s experiment of
measuring atmospheric pressure.
Ans( ):
An Italian scientist E. Torricelli was first to device
a method for measuring atmospheric pressure
accurately. It is called a simple barometer.
It consists of a long glass tube filled with mercury
and then inverted in a through of mercury to stand
vertically, as shown in figure.
The mercury level in the tube falls down a little
and comes to rest at a vertical height of 76cm
above the mercury level in the dish.

76cm
The space above mercury in the tube is almost a
perfect vacuum and is called Torricellial vacuum.
Therefore, pressure P = 0,

P = 0,
Clearly, ( )
Pa = hrg
For a mercury barometer,
h = 76cm 0.76m, r = 13.6x 103 kg/m3
g = 9.8m/s2 ,
Therefore atmospheric pressure, (
)
Pa = 0.76 x 13.6 x 103 x 9.8 Pa
Torr( )-
The pressure exerted by the 1mm high
column of mercury is called a torr.
1mm

1 torr = 133Pa
1 bar = 105Pa
Q. Describe how an open tube manometer can
be used to measure the pressure of a gas.
Ans( ):
It is a simple device used to measure the pressure
of a gas enclosed in a vessel.
It consists of a U-tube containing some liquid.
One end of the tube is open to the atmosphere
and the other end is connected to the vessel, as
shown in figure.
U
The total pressure P of the gas is equal to the
pressure at A. Thus,
P, A
 P = Pa + hrg

Where, Pa is the atmospheric pressure.

h = difference in the levels of the liquid in the two
arms and r is the density of the liquid.
Pa h
r
Q. Distinguish between absolute pressure and
gauge pressure.
Ans( ):
1. Absolute pressure( )-
The total or actual pressure at a point is
called absolute pressure.
2. Gauge pressure( )-
The difference between the actual pressure
(or absolute pressure) at a point and the
atmospheric pressure is called gauge
pressure.
Q. Calculate the height of the atmosphere
above the earth’s surface. Also state the
assumptions used.
Ans( ):
For calculating the height of atmosphere, we
make use of the following assumptions:
(
)-
1. The value of g does not change appreciably
upto a certain height.
2. Temperature remains uniform throughout.
1.
2.
3. Although density of air decreases with
height, we assume it to be uniform and take
r = 1.3 kg/m3.
3.
r = 1.3 kg/m3
Pressure exerted by h height of air column
= Pressure exerted by 0.76m of Hg
h
Hg 0.76m
hrg = 1.013 x 105 Pa
h = 1.013 x 105 Pa/rg
= (1.013 x 105 / 1.3 x 9.8) m
= 7951m
= 8 km
In fact, density of air is not constant but
decreases with height. The density becomes half
at about 6 km height, 1/4th at about 12km and so
on. so the atmospheric cover extends with
decreasing pressure even beyond 200 km.

6
1/4th 12
200
Q. Define buoyancy and centre of buoyancy.
Ans( ):
1. Buoyance( )-
The upward force acting on a body
immersed in a fluid is called upthrust or
buoyant force and the phenomenon is called
buoyancy.

( )
or( )
The upward force acting on a body partially
or wholly immersed in a fluid is called
buoyant force. It is also known as upward
thrust or buoyancy.
2. Centre of buoyancy( )-
The force of buoyancy acts through the
centre of gravity of the displaced fluid which
is called centre of buoyancy.
Q. State and prove Archimedes’ principle.

Ans: According to this principle, when a body is

immersed wholly of partially in a fluid, it
loses its weight which is equal to the weight
of the fluid displaced by the body.
Prove( ):
Consider a body of mass M completely immersed
in a liquid of density r, as shown in figure.
M r
Let A be the area of cross-section of the lower and
upper face of the body, l be the depth of the upper
face of the body from the free surface of liquid
and area A and height h be the height of the body.
A
l
h
The pressure acting on the upper and lower face
of the body due to the liquid are,

P1 = lrg
And( ), P2 = (l + h)rg
Net upward force( ),

F = F2 - F1
Or( ), F = P2A - P1A
Or( ), F = (l + h)rg A - lrg A
But( ),
Ah = V, [volume of the body,( )]
Hence( ), F = Vrg
Now( ),
Vr = m, [mass of the liquid displaced(
)]
Hence( ),
Buoyant force( )
= weight of the liquid displaced(
)]
This proves the Archimedes’ principle(
),
Q. Deduce an expression for the apparent
weight of the immersed body.
Ans( ):
Apparent weight = Actual weight – Buoyant force
= -
Wapp = W – Th
Or( ), Wapp = Vsg – Vrg

r
Or( ), Wapp = Vsg( 1 – )
s
r
Or( ), Wapp = W( 1 – )
s
Here W = Vsg is the true weight of the body and
s is its density.
W = Vsg s
Q. Explain the laws of floatation with all
possibilities of a body in a liquid.
Ans( ):
The law of floatation states that a body will float in
a liquid if the weight of the liquid displaced by the
immersed part of the body is equal to or greater
than the weight of the body, shown in figure.