APPLIED SCIENCE
5.0 SOLID AND FLUID
INTRODUCTION
We normally recognize three states of matter: solid; liquid and gas. However, liquid and gas
are both fluids: in contrast to solids they lack the ability to resist deformation. Because a fluid
cannot resist deformation force, it moves, or flows under the action of the force. Its shape will
change continuously as long as the force is applied. A solid can resist a deformation force
while at rest. While a force may cause some displacement, the solid does not move
indefinitely.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this unit are to:
1. Understand the concept of solid and fluid.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing the unit, students should be able to :
1. Explain the concept of solid and fluid.
2. Solve problems on solid and fluid.
1
APPLIED SCIENCE
5.1 Concept of Solid and Fluid
5.1.1 Characteristics of Gases, Liquids and Solids
Characteristics of Gases, Liquids and Solids
Gas Liquid Solid
Particles can move past one Particles can move/slide past one Rigid - Particles locked into
another another places
Compressible Not easily compressible Not easily compressible
Lots of free space between Little free space between particles Little free space between particles
particles
Flows easily Flows easily Does not flows easily
Particles can move past one Particles can move past one Rigid - Particles cannot move
another another past one another
Particles in a gas move about Particles in a liquid move about. Particles in a solid are close
quickly. They move in all They are close together together. They do not move about
directions. They are spread out but they can vibrate
2
APPLIED SCIENCE
5.2 Gases, Liquids, and Solids
Gases, liquids and solids are all made up of atoms, molecules, and/or ions, but the
behaviors of these particles differ in the three phases. The following figure illustrates the
microscopic differences. All matter is described as being made from particles, which are too
small to be seen and always moving. Solids are described as having particles which are
close together and unable to move far and as having their own shape and being hard to
compress. Liquids are described as having particles which are also close together but free to
move and as taking the shape of their container and being hard to compress. Gases are
described as having particles which are further apart and as having their own shape and
being easy to compress.
3
APPLIED SCIENCE
3.3 Density and Pressure
Density
Specific gravity
and can depend on temperature.
Pressure in a fluid
At any particular depth, the pressure is constant throughout a fluid.
4
APPLIED SCIENCE
5.3.1 Density
Density is ratio of the mass of a substance to its volume. Density often is taken
as an indication of how “heavy” a substance is.
Density is divided into two (2) types:
a) Material density
b) Relative density (Specific Gravity)
5.3.1.1 Material Density
Defination: Density is defined as mass per unit volume
Symbol : density (ρ)
Unit: kg/m3 or kgm-3
Formula : ρ = density
m
ρ= v m = mass
v = volume SPECIFIC GRAVITY
5.3.1.2 Relative Density
Defination: Relative density, ratio of the weight of a given volume of a
substance to the weight of water.
Symbol : Relative density ( ρb )
Unit: No unit
ρb = relative density (specific
Formula : ρ gravity)
b = ρ ρ = density
water
ρwater = density of water (1000
kg/m3)
5.3.2 Pressure
Defination : Pressure is defined as force per unit area acting on a surface
Symbol : P Unit : Pascal ( Pa) or Newton per square meter (N/m2)
Formula :
p = pressure
F F = force 5
P=A A= area
APPLIED SCIENCE
5.4 Variation of Pressure With Depth
In equilibrium, all points at the same depth
must be at the same pressure. Otherwise a
net force would be applied and the fluid
would accelerate.
Pick a volume of fluid a distance h below the
surface:
P0 =1.013x105 Pa at sea level
P increases with depth by an amount mgh
6
APPLIED SCIENCE
5.5 Pressure Application
7
APPLIED SCIENCE
8
APPLIED SCIENCE
9
APPLIED SCIENCE
10
APPLIED SCIENCE
11
APPLIED SCIENCE
5.6 Pascal’s Principle
12
APPLIED SCIENCE
13
APPLIED SCIENCE
14
APPLIED SCIENCE
3.7 Archimedes Principle
15
APPLIED SCIENCE
16
APPLIED SCIENCE
17
APPLIED SCIENCE
18
APPLIED SCIENCE
Example of Archimedes Principle
1. A ship of mass 1200 t floats in sea-water. What volume of sea-water does it displace?If the
ship enters fresh water, what weight of cargo must be unloaded so that the same volume
of water is displaced as before?
( Density of fresh water = 1000 kg/m³ , relative density of sea-water = 1.03; 1t = 1000kg)
Solution
Mass of sea water displaced = 1200 t
Density of sea-water =1000×1.03 kg/m³
Volume displaced = mass/density = 1200×1000/1000×1.03 m³ = 1165 m³ of sea-water
The same volume of fresh water weights 1165×1000 kg = 1165 t
Therefore, weight of cargo to be unloaded = 1200 - 1165 = 35 t
2. What volume of brass of density 8.5 g/cm³ must be attached to a piece of wood of mass
100 g and density 0.2 g/cm³ so that the two together will just submerge beneath water?
Solution
The brass and wood together will just submerge when the average density of the whole is
equal to that of water ( 1 g/cm³).
Let the volume of the brass = V ( in cm³)
then mass of the brass =8.5 V ( in g)
volume of the wood = 100/0.2= 500 cm³
and mass of wood = 100 g
For an average density of 1 g /cm³ the total mass bust be numerically equal to the
total volume.
Hence,
100 + 8.5 V = 500 + V
rearranging 7.5 V = 400 or
V = 400/7.5
= 53.3 cm³ of brass.
19
APPLIED SCIENCE
3. An ordinary hydrometer of mass 28 g floats with 3 cm of its stem out of water. The area of
cross-section of the stem is 0.75 cm³ .
Find the total volume of the hydrometer and the length of stem above the surface when it
floats in a liquid of relative density 1.4.
Solution
By the law of floatation, the hydrometer displaces its own weight of any liquid.
Therefore,
Weight of water displaced = 28 g
Volume of water displaced = 28 cm³
Assuming top of stem to be flat and not rounded,
Volume of stem above water = 0.75×3 =2.25cm³
therefore,
Total volume of hydrometer = 28+ 2.25 = 30.25 cm³
Volume of liquid displaced = mass / density
= 28/1.4
=20 cm³
Therefore,
Length of stem above liquid = 10.25/0.75
= 13.7 cm
20
APPLIED SCIENCE
Exercises
1) Cuboids of steel with density 4200 kg/m3 situated at top of a table. Weight of the
steel is 310 N. Calculate :
a) mass of the cuboid steel
b) volume of the cuboid steel
c) specific gravity
2) If the density of an object is 7860 kg/m3, calculate the specific gravity of that object.
3) A cube with measurement of 2m x 3m x 4m were fill with 4500 g oil, find
a) weight of oil
b) oil density
c) oil specific gravity
d) Pressure in that cube if 3 kN force exerting
e) If the cube were fill with cuprum that has specific gravity 13.6, calculate the
mass of that cuprum.
4) A cubic container with dimensions of 30cm x 20cm x 30 cm as shown in diagram S4
(b) is filled with 3800 g oil. Hence calculate:
10kN
30cm
20cm
30cm
Diagram S4 (b)
a) The oil density
b) Relative density of oil
c) The pressure exerted on the floor if 10kN force was applied on the surface of
the container.
5) In a hydraulic lift, a piston area is 0.01 m2 and 0.1 m2 respectively. How much force
large pistons obtain if 20 N forces exerted to a small piston?
6) Figure below shows a model of a hydraulic machine used for lifting heavy loads. It
consists two pistons X and Y of cross-sectional area 0.02 m2 and 0.28 m2 respectively.
When piston X is pressed down by applying a force of 15 N, a large force is produced
on piston Y.
a) Calculate the pressure exerted on the oil by piston X.
b) What is the magnitude of the pressure exerting on piston Y?
21
APPLIED SCIENCE
7) A density of water in a swimming pool is 1030 kg/m3. Calculate pressure exerted to
the base of swimming pool if the depth of swimming pool is 30 m?
8) A building is supplied with warm water from a water tank situated on its roof. If the
water pressure at the ground floor is 1.96 x 105 Pa, what is the height of the building?
9) A block of volume 800 cm3 is immersed in water. Calculate:
i. The actual weight of the block
ii. The apparent weight when it is immersed.
(The density of block =2500 kg/m3, density water =1000 2500 kg/m3)
22
