Fluid Mechanics Units: kg/m3, g/cm3 (SI

system), slugs per cubic foot

FUNDAMENTAL
(English)
PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS
b. WEIGHT DENSITY or
FLUID MECHANICS - the
specific weight, ɣ (gamma)
science of the mechanics of
– the weight of a matter
fluids, which uses the same
acting in a unit volume. It
fundamental principles as the
represents the force exerted
mechanics of solids.
by gravity on a unit volume
of fluid.
Three Branches of fluid
mechanics:
ɣ= w/V, where V is the
1. Fluid static – the study of
volume of a substance having
mechanics of fluids at rest.
a weight w.
2. Kinematics – deals with
Units: N/m3, kN/m3 (SI
velocities and streamlines
system), pounds per cubic
without considering forces or
foot (English)
energy.
3. Fluid Dynamics –
Relationships:
concerned with the relations
w N
between velocities and ɣ= → 3 Weight Density
V m
accelerations and
m kg
the forces exerted by or upon ρ= → 3 Mass Density
V m
fluids in motion.
w
m=
g
FLUID PROPERTIES:
mg
1. DENSITY ɣ=
V
a. MASS DENSITY, ρ (rho) – ɣ=ρg
the amount of mass per unit
volume of a substance.

ρ= mass per unit volume 2. SPECIFIC VOLUME –

ρ= m/V, where V is the 3
m
volume of the substance volume per unit mass ( ),
kg
having a mass m.
reciprocal of the mass lb
ɣ w @ 4 C =62.4
o
3
1 ft
density. v=
ρ kg
ρw @ 4 C =1000 3
o
3. SPECIFIC GRAVITY or m
relative density of a liquid (sg) slugs
ρw @ 4 C =1.94 3
o
– it is often convenient to ft
indicate the specific weight or 4. COMPRESSIBILITY –
density of a fluid in terms of refers to the change in
its relationship to the specific volume (V) of a substance
weight or density of a that is
common fluid. When the term subjected to a change in
specific gravity is used, the pressure on it. The usual
reference quantity used to measure this
fluid is pure water at 4oC, phenomenon is the bulk
where water has its greatest modulus of elasticity or
density. Then, specific gravity simply, bulk modulus, E.
can − Δρ
E=
be defined in either of two Δv
ways: v
Fluid expands as T↑ or P↓
a. Specific gravity is the ratio Fluid contracts as T↓∨P ↑
of the density of a substance
to the density of water at 4 o C 5. ELASTICITY – the ability
of fluid to store energy which
b. Specific gravity is the ratio can be recovered when the
of the specific weight of a fluid is
substance to the specific allowed to expand to its
weight of water at 4 o C . original volume.
ρfluid 6. SURFACE TENSION – a
SG= liquid property, which enables
ρw @ 4 C
o

ɣ fluid the attraction between

SG= molecules to form an
ɣw @4 C
o

imaginary film capable of

kN
ɣ w @ 4 C =9.81 3
o resisting tension at the
m
interface between
two immiscible liquids or at resistance to relative motion
the interface between a liquid within a fluid.
and agas. As temperature increases,
Cohesion – enables a liquid the viscosities of all liquids
to resist tensile stress. It is decrease, while those of
the attraction of liquid gases
molecules to increase. This is so because
each other. the force of cohesion, which
Adhesion – enables a liquid diminishes with temperature,
to adhere it to another body. predominates with liquid while
It is the attraction of liquid with gases the predominating
molecules for molecules of factor is the interchange of
another liquid or solid. molecules between the layers
of different velocities.
7. CAPILLARITY – is due to
both cohesion and adhesion. Shear stress– τ
If adhesion has greater effect ⇒force required to slide one
than cohesion, the fluid tends unit layer of substance over
to rise at the point where it another.
comes in contact with another stress=Force/Area
body. With less cohesion N/m2 Pascal or Pa
than adhesion, liquid will wet Viscocity Gradient—measure
a solid surface with which it of viscocity
comes Δv
( )
in contact. If cohesion is Δy
prevalent the fluid will be Shear stress
depressed at the point of Δv
τ =μ( )
contact. Δy
For example, capillarity Δy
μ=τ
makes water rise in a glass Δv
tube, while mercury is N m N ⋅s
μ= 2 ( )= 2 =ρa ⋅ s
depressed below m m m
s
the true level.
Kinematic:
8. VISCOSITY – property of
μ
the fluid which causes v=
ρ
In liquid—-the higher the
temperature, the viscosity
decreases

In gas—the higher the

temperature increases