MODULE 1 Fluid Dynamics

Pressure - Archimedes’ law from the latter topics described

static fluids. Furthermore, in fluid dynamics it will be
- The only stress that can be exerted on an object concentrated to the moving fluids. When fluid is in motion, it
submerged in a static fluid is one that tends to compress the flows with different characteristics such as the following:
object from all sides. Meaning, the force that can be exerted
by the static fluid on an object is always perpendicular to its 1. Steady Flow or Laminar Flow. This happens if the moving
surfaces. fluids follow a smooth path such that the paths of different
particles never cross each other. Laminar flow is predictable.
- Is a scalar quantity because it is proportional to Determining the velocity vector of the fluid under this
the magnitude of the force on the piston. condition, every other particle arriving at the same position
afterward will have the same velocity.
- The SI unit in pressure is N/m2 as it is the ratio of
force over the surface area which has an equivalent another 2. Turbulent Flow. Turbulent flow is irregular, unpredictable
SI unit of pascal (Pa): flow characterized by small whirlpool-like regions.

Variation of Pressure with Depth The term viscosity is commonly used in the description of
fluid flow to characterize the degree of internal friction in
- Water pressure increases in depth and atmospheric
the fluid.
pressure decreases with increasing altitude. Moreover,
pressure in a liquid increases with depth. Viscosity causes part of the fluid’s kinetic energy to
be transformed to internal energy. This mechanism is similar
Pressure Measurement
to the one by which the kinetic energy of an object sliding
- Barometric pressure is the common measurement over a rough, horizontal surface decreases.
during the weather forecast on television. One of the
For the simplification of ideal fluid flow, these are the
common instruments in measuring atmospheric pressure is
following assumptions:
barometer which was invented by Evangelista Torricelli (1608
– 1647). 1. The fluid is nonviscous if the internal friction is neglected.
An object moving through the fluid experiences no viscous
Buoyant Forces and Archimedes’ Principle
force.
- Buoyant force is the upward force exerted by a
2. The flow is laminar if all particles passing through a point
fluid on any immersed object. Its magnitude on an objects
have the same velocity and follow the same path.
always equals the weight of the fluid displaced by the object
that was stated by Archimedes (c. 287 – 212 BC) knows as 3. The fluid is incompressible if the density is the same
Archimedes’ Principle. throughout the fluid.
Common Situations in an Object in a Fluid 4. The flow is irrotational if the fluid has no angular
momentum about any point. If a small paddle wheel placed
Case 1: Totally Submerged Object. When an object is totally
anywhere in the fluid does not rotate about the wheel’s
submerged in a fluid of density 𝜌𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑, the 𝑉𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝 of the
center of mass, the flow is irrotational.
displaced fluid equal to the volume 𝑉𝑜𝑏𝑗 of the object;
The path taken by the fluid under laminar flow is called
Case 2: Floating Object. If the particle is in equilibrium, the
streamline
upward buoyant force is balanced by the downward
gravitational force acting on the object This expression is called the equation of continuity for fluids.
It states that the product of the area and the fluid speed at
all points along a pipe is constant for an incompressible
This equation shows that the fraction of the volume of a fluid.
floating object that is below the fluid surface is equal to the
The product 𝐴𝑣, which has the dimensions of volume per
ratio of the density of the object to that of the fluid.
unit of time, is called either the volume flux or the flow rate.
Bernoulli’s Equation This implies that the acceleration of m is
proportional to its position, and the direction of
- As a fluid moves through a region where its acceleration is opposite the direction of the
speed or elevation above the Earth’s surface changes, displacement of the block from equilibrium. Systems
the pressure in the fluid varies with these changes. that are behaving this way exhibits simple harmonic
Bernoulli’s equation shows that the pressure motion. An object moves with simple harmonic motion
of a fluid decreases as the speed of the fluid increases. whenever its acceleration is proportional to its
In addition, the pressure decreases as the elevation position and is oppositely directed to the displacement
increases. This latter point explains why water pressure from equilibrium.
from faucets on the upper floors of a tall building is Energy of the Simple Harmonic Motion
weak unless measures are taken to provide higher
pressure for these upper floors. The total mechanical energy of a simple harmonic
oscillator is a constant of the motion and is proportional
The constant 𝜂 is called the viscosity of the fluid and has to the square of the amplitude. The total mechanical
a unit of 𝑁 ∙ 𝑠 𝑚2 = 𝑃a ∙ 𝑠. Another common unit of energy is equal to the maximum potential energy stored
viscosity is the poise (P), where 1 Pa ∙ s = 10 P. in the spring when 𝑥 = ±𝐴 because 𝑣 = 0 at these points
a “thick” fluid such as honey has a high and there is no kinetic energy
viscosity, while fluids such as water and air have lower
viscosity values.

Recalling again at the representation of viscous fluid,

the speed of the bottom surface is zero and the speed
of subsequent portion higher toward the top increases,
with the highest surface having the highest speed.
Applying this notion to the flow of fluid in pipe, it find
that, because of the viscous force between layers of
fluid, the flow of a fluid in a pipe is not uniform across
the area of the pipe. The speed of the fluid is greatest
at the center of the pipe and approaches zero at the
pipe walls.

This is known as Poiseuille’s Law, or Hagen-Poiseuille

Equation. Notice the important dependence of the
pressure difference on r: the pressure difference is
inversely proportional to r to the fourth power.

Motion of an Object Attached to a String

The block is at rest at the equilibrium position (x = 0) of

the system when is spring is neither stretched nor
compressed. When mass m is disturbed it will oscillate
back and forth from equilibrium position and passing to
it. When the mass m is displaced in a position of x from
equilibrium, the spring exerts a force that is
proportional to the position x given by Hooke’s Law