CHAPTER

10 Lecture Module 10
FLUID MECHANICS

Objectives:
1. Explain the relationship between pressure, force, area and density.
2. Differentiate fluid pressure, absolute pressure and atmospheric pressure.
3. Apply Archimedes Principle to determine the buoyant forces and densities of solids and
liquids.
4. Determine Bernoulli’s equation and use it to resolve problems involving fluids in motion.
5. Use the flow rate and equation of continuity to explain hydrodynamics.
6. Give and discuss occurrences in which concepts of fluid mechanics are observed.

Matter can exist in three phases: solid, liquid and gas. There are different properties of matter
which will enable us to distinguish one from each other. This chapter will consider properties and
principles that governs solids, liquids and gases

7.1. NATURE OF MATTER

Solid matter is characterized by resistance to any change in shape, caused by a strong attraction
between the molecules of which it is composed. In liquid form, matter does not resist forces that act to
change its shape, because the molecules are free to move with respect to each other. Liquids, however,
have sufficient molecular attraction to resist forces tending to change their volume. Gaseous matter, in
which molecules are widely dispersed and move freely, offers no resistance to change of shape and
little resistance to change of volume. As a result, a gas that is not confined tends to diffuse infinitely,
increasing in volume and diminishing in density.
Solid matter has definite volume and shape Liquid matter has indefinite shape but definite
volume as it follows the shape of its container. Gaseous matter has indefinite volume and shape. Since
liquids and gases have greater freedom of movement than solids, they are able to flow; hence they are
often referred to as fluids.

7.2. FLUID STATICS

7.2.1. Hydrostatics
Hydrostatics is the study of fluids at rest.

7.2.2. Basic Concepts:

Mass m of a body is the absolute quantity of matter in it.

Mass Density ρ
Mass density ρ is defined as the mass m of an object at a specific volume V. In symbol
ρ = mass/volume
= m/V

The density of water is 1 g/cm3 or 1000 kg/m3.

The densest material found on earth is the metal osmium (22.5 g/cm 3). The density of water is
1 g/cm3.
Density of some substances varies from point to point within the material. For example at earth’s
atmosphere materials are less dense at higher altitude, but at the ocean, density is greater at a greater
depth.

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 1

 Weight Density D
Weight Density D is defined as the weight of an object at a specific volume. In symbol
D = W/V
Since Weight W = mg, then
D = mg/V
And since ρ = m/v, then
D=gρ

Density of Some Substances

Substance Density Substance Density kg/m3
kg/m3
Solids: Ice 0.917 x 103
Platinum 21.4 x 103 Wood (pine) 0.5 x 103
Gold 19.3 x 103 Liquids
Uranium 19.0 x 103 Seawater 13.6 x 103
Lead 11.3 x 103 Water (4oC) 1.0 x 103
Copper 8.9 x 103 Ethyl Alcohol 0.79 x 103
Iron & Steel 7.9 x 103 Gases
Aluminum 2.7 x 103 Air 1.29
Glass 2.6 x 103 Carbon Dioxide 1.98
Bone 1.7 x 103 Steam 0.60

Example Problem 1:
Find the weight density of water at standard condition?

Solution:
Given:
At standard condition:
9 = 9.80 m/s2
ρ = 1000 kg/m3

Required: D

Computation:
D=gρ
= (9.80)(1000)
= 9800N/m3

c.Specific Gravity
Specific Gravity Of A Substance Is Defined As The Ratio Of The Density Of The Substance To
The Density To A Standard Substance. Usually, Water At Temperature Of Maximum Density
(4oc) Is Chosen As The Standard Substance. Hence
Specific gravity = ρsubst/ ρwater
= Dsubst/ Dwater

Example Problem 2:
What is the mass density and weight density of a 1.5 – kg substance if it occupies a volume of
0.03 m3? Compute the specific gravity of this substance.

Solution:
Given: m = 1.50 kg
V = 0.03 m3

Required:
Mass density
Weight density
Specific gravity

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 2

 Computation:
Mass density = mass/ volume
= 1.50 kg/ 0.03 m3
= 50 kg/m3

Weight density = mass density x g

D=gρ
= (9.8 m/s2)(50 kg/m3)
= 490 N/m3

Specific gravity = ρsubst/ ρwater

= (50 kg/m3)/ (1000 kg/m3)
= 0.05

Pressure P – refers to the force F acting perpendicularly on area A. The defining equation is
P = F/A
A given force can result from a large pressure over a small area or a small pressure over a large
area. Hence even a small pressure exerted over a large area exerts a large force.
Less pressure Greater pressure

F F

A A

The SI unit for pressure is the Pascal (Pa) where

1 Pascal = 1 N/m2

Other units of Pressure are mmHg, atm,, torr, inHg, lb/in2 ,bar
Conversion factors:
1 Pa = 1 N/m2
1 mm hg = 1 torr
1 mm hg = 133 N/m2
1 atm = 1.013 x 105 Pa
1 atm = 760 torr
= 1.013 bar
= 14.70 lb/in2

Example Problem1:
Find the total downward force on the floor surface due to air pressure of 1 atm. at a room with
4.0m by 4.0 m floor dimension.

Solution:
Given:
P = 1 atm
room dimension:
L=4m
w=4m
Required:
downward force F

Computation; From the definition of pressure

P = F/A
F = PA
= (1.013 x 105 Pa)( 4m)(4m)
= 1,620,800 N

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 3

 Gauge pressure Pg is dependent on its depth and density. It can be stated that pressure is
directly proportional to the height and density of fluid. The defining equation is
Pg =  g h
In the figure, P3 would be the highest
value of the three pressure readings,
because it has the highest level of fluid
above it.

Example Problem: Calculate the pressure of water at the bottom of a swimming pool 15 m deep.

Solution:
Given: h = 15 m
Required: P
Computation:
P = gh
= ( 9.8 m/s2 ) (1.00 x 103 kg/m3) ( 15 m)
= 1.47 x 105 N/m2 or 1.47 x 105 Pascals

The absolute pressure is the sum of the atmospheric pressure Patm and the gauge pressure.
The atmospheric pressure is the earth’s atmospheric pressure. The pressure varies with weather
changes and with elevation. The standard reference atmospheric pressure is at sea level which is 14.7
lb/in2 or 2120 lb/ ft2, or 29.92 inHg at 32oF, 1.013 bar,1.013 x 105Pa, 760 mmHg or 1atm.
P = Patm + Pgauge

Example Problem:
What is the absolute pressure of water at the bottom swimming pool of dimensions 10 m by
10m? The water is 1.5 meter high. How much force is exerted?

Solution:
Given:
h = 1.5 m
Required:
a. Pressure, P
b. Force, F

Computation:
a. Pg =  g h
= (1.00 x 103 kg/m3) ( 9.8 m/s2 ) ( 1.5 m)
= 1.47 x 104 N/m2 or 1.47 x 104 Pascals

b. From P = F/A
F=PA
where P = Pg + Patm
= 1.47 x 104 N/m2 + 1.013 x 105 Pa
= 1.16 x 105 Pa
F = PA
= P(LW)
F = (1.16 x 105 Pa ) (10m)(10m)
= 1.16 x 107 Pa

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 4

7.2.3. Pascal’s Law And Archimedes Principle

a. Pascal’s Principle
This states that the pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted
equally in all directions and to all parts of the enclosing vessel. Pascal’s law is
applied to a number of practical devices such as hydraulic jack, car brakes, and a
dentist’s chair.
• If a pressure is applied to one side of an enclosed fluid, all the other walls
containing the fluid feel the same pressure.

b. Archimedes’ Principle
This states that a submerged body is subject to a buoyancy force that is equal to the weight of
the fluid displaced by that body. This explains why a
heavily laden ship floats; its total weight equals exactly
the weight of the water that it displaces, and this
weight exerts the buoyant force supporting the ship.
In liquids the buoyant force (BF) is measured by
finding the loss of weight of an object when weighed in
air in liquid.
Since the "water ball" at left is exactly
Archimedes’ Principle also predicts that the
supported by the difference in pressure and the
buoyant force on a body immersed in a fluid is equal to
solid object at right experiences exactly the
the weight of the fluid displaced by that object.
same pressure environment, it follows that the
buoyant force on the solid object is equal to the
FB = weight in air – apparent weight in liquid
weight of the water displaced
= loss of weight of an object

where loss of weight of an object

= weight of fluid displaced

Therefore, FB = weight of the fluid displaced

It is also important to note that the difference in weights will equal the weight of the volume of
the water displaced, which is the same as the volume of the object.
Buoyant force is also dependent on the density of the fluid displaced. The higher its density, the
greater is the buoyant force.

Example Problem:
A small can weighs 1.25 N in air and has a volume of 1.0 x 10-5 m3. How much will it weigh when
completely submerged in water?

Solution:
Given: W in air = 1.25 N
V = 1.0 x 10-5 m3

Required: Win water

Computation:
From Archimedes principle:
The apparent weight in water (w’)
= weight in air (w) – Bouyant force FB
w’ = w - FB
Solving for the FB:
FB = wwater displaced and using the definition of W = mg gives us
= gmwater displaced from density definition (ρ=m/v), we have m = ρv
= g(ρv)waterdisplaced

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 5

 solving for w’ in the equation:
w’ = w - g(ρv)liqd displaced
= 1.25 – [9.8(1000)(1 x 10-5 )
= 1.25 – 0.098
= 1.15 N

7.3. FLUID DYNAMICS

Fluid dynamics is a sub-discipline of fluid mechanics that deals with fluid flow—the natural
science of fluids (liquids and gases) in motion.

Subdisciplines of fluid dynamics:

a. Aerodynamics
-the study of air and other gases in motion
b. Hydrodynamics
- the study of liquids in motion

7.3.1. Hydrodynamics - Fluid Flow (fluids in motion)

This branch of fluid mechanics deals with the laws of fluids in motion; these laws are
considerably more complex and, in spite of the greater practical importance of fluid dynamics, only a
few basic ideas can be discussed here.

A. Bernoulli Principle

The principle states that the total mechanical energy of an incompressible and inviscid flow is
constant along a streamline. Streamlines are imaginary flow lines that are always parallel to the local
direction of the flow, and that for steady flow are also the lines followed by individual fluid particles.

Bernoulli’s principle leads to an interrelationship between pressure effects, velocity effects, and
gravity effects, and indicates that the velocity increases as the pressure decreases.

P1 +  gh1 + v1 2 /2 = P2 + +  gh2 + v2 2  /2

Another way of stating this principle is: if the elevation is constant, where speed of a fluid is
greater, the pressure it exerts is lesser.
*** when there is friction, the pressure is reduced.

B. Viscosity
Viscosity is the property of a fluid that tends to prevent it from flowing when subjected to an
applied force. High-viscosity fluids resist flow; low-viscosity fluids flow easily.

Types of Viscous Flow

Streamline or laminar flow - in this type of flow, every
particle of fluid that passes a particular point follows
the same path as particles that pass the path before it.
The particle does not cross over one another. The
particles move in unchanging lines called streamlines.

Turbulent flow - this is characterized by agitated, disorderly

motion. If the fluid swirls and forms eddies, the flow is
said to be turbulent.

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 6

7.3.2. Flow Rate, Q
The flow rate Q is the volume V of fluid
passing a cross-section per unit time.
Q = Vol / t = AL/t = Av

7.3.3.. Equation of Continuity

The mass crossing each section of the tube per unit time must be the same. This is simply the
principle of conservation of mass.

This principle is embodied in the equation

of continuity. If fluid is incompressible, that is
density is constant. Volumetric flow rate of fluids
in any point in a pipe is constant.
v1 A1 = v2 A2

The equation says that if the flow velocity v is high, the cross-sectional area A is small, and vice
versa (keeping flow rate constant).

Example Problem:
Water is flowing in a pipe whose cross sectional area is 0.20 m 2 and the magnitude of the fluid
velocity is 5.00 m/s. What is a) the fluid speed at points in the pipe where the cross-sectional area
is 0.15 m2 ?
b) the volume of the discharged water at open end of the pipe in 3 s.

Solution: Given:

V1 = 5 m/s A1 = 0.20 m2
Required:
a. v2 if A2 = 0.15 m2
b. Vol if t = 3 s
Computation:
a. From equation of continuity
V1 A1 = V 2 A2
V2 = V1 A1/ A2
= (5 m/s)(0.20m2) = 6.67 m/s
(0.15 m2)
b. From flow rate, Q = Vol / t
Volume = Qt
= V1 A1t
= (5 m/s)(0.20m2)(3s)
= 3 m3

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 7

NAME:__________________________________________________ DATE:________________
SCHEDULE:_____________________________________________

Lecture Activity No.10

FLUID MECHANICS

Solve the following problems:

1. A rectangular block of unidentified material has dimensions 5 x 10 x 20 cm and a mass of 2.5 kg.
a. What is the density?
b. Will the material float in water?

2. A boiler has a pressure of 9.50 kg/cm3. What is the absolute pressure in the boiler if the
barometric pressure of the atmosphere is 770 mm of Hg.

3. Water is flowing in a pipe, and at all points the water completely fills the pipe. At point 1 the cross
sectional area of the pipe is 0.05 m2 and the magnitude of the fluid velocity is 2.00 m/s. Find
a) the fluid speed at points in the pipe where the cross-sectional area is 0.025 m2?
b) the volume of the water discharged from the

Physics for Engineers Lecture Module 8