FLUIDS 1 TERMINOLOGIES

Mass density (ρ) - of a substance is its mass per unit volume. (M/v) (kg/m^3)

Specific volume - defined as the number of cubic meters occupied by one kilogram of a particular
substance. (m 3 /kg or m 3 · kg -1 ); is inversely proportional to density

Specific weight (γ) - (also known as the unit weight) is the weight per unit volume of a material
- the specific weight of water on Earth at 4°C which is 9.807 kN/m3 or 62.43 lbf/ft3

Specific gravity (SG) - ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance
(ρsample / ρwater)

Viscosity (η, μ) - of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to gradual deformation by shear stress or tensile
stress. For liquids, it corresponds to the informal concept of "thickness" (Pa·s = (N·s)/m2 =
kg/(s·m) )

Kinematic viscosity (ν) - ratio of the dynamic viscosity μ to the density of the fluid ρ (m2/s)

Surface tension ( σ) - the elastic tendency of a fluid surface which makes it acquire the least surface area
possible (N/m)

Adhesion - the tendency of dissimilar particles or surfaces to cling to one another

Cohesion - the tendency of similar or identical particles/surfaces to cling to one another

Compressibility (β) - measure of the relative volume change of a fluid or solid as a response to a
pressure (or mean stress) change

Capillarity - is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of, or even in
opposition to, external forces like gravity

Bulk modulus of elasticity (B) - of a substance is a measure of how incompressible/resistant to

compressibility that substance is

Gage pressure - is zero-referenced against ambient air pressure, so it is equal to absolute pressure
minus atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure - the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth (or that of another planet); closely
approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement
point (1 Pa = 1 N/m2)

Absolute pressure - zero-referenced against a perfect vacuum, using an absolute scale, so it is equal to
gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure

Boyle’s law - describes how the pressure of a gas tends to increase as the volume of the container
decreases (P1V1=P2V2) ; For a fixed amount of an ideal gas kept at a fixed temperature,
pressure and volume are inversely proportional

Manometer - an instrument for measuring the pressure acting on a column of fluid, especially one with
a U-shaped tube of liquid in which a difference in the pressures acting in the two arms of the
tube causes the liquid to reach different heights in the two arms
Piezometer - a device used to measure liquid pressure in a system by measuring the height to which a
column of the liquid rises against gravity, or a device which measures the pressure (more
precisely, the piezometric head) of groundwater at a specific point

Hydrostatic force - The pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to
the force of gravity

Center of gravity - a point from which the weight of a body or system may be considered to act. In
uniform gravity it is the same as the center of mass

Center of pressure - the point where the total sum of a pressure field acts on a body, causing a force to
act through that point

Eccentricity (ε or e)– a constant expressed as the ratio of the distance from a point on a conic to a focus
and the distance from the point to the directrix

Dams – a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, the resulting reservoir being used in
the generation of electricity or as a water supply

Buoyancy – the power of supporting a body so that it floats; upward pressure exerted by the fluid in
which a body is immersed

Buoyant force – the upward force exerted by any fluid upon a body placed in it — compare archimedes'
principle

Center buoyancy – the center of mass of the fluid displaced by a floating or submerged body (as a ship,
submarine, or balloon)

Metacenter – the point of intersection between a vertical line through the center of buoyancy of a
floating body such as a ship and a vertical line through the new center of buoyancy when the
body is tilted, which must be above the center of gravity to ensure stability

Stable position (floating body) –

Unstable position (floating body) –

Metacentric height – (GM) is a measurement of the initial static stability of a floating body. It is
calculated as the distance between the centre of gravity of a ship and its metacentre. A larger
metacentric height implies greater initial stability against overturning.

Pitching (floating body) – angular displacement of a boat or ship about its transverse axis

Rolling (floating body) – angular displacement of a boat or ship about its longitudinal axis

Draft (floating body) –

Rotating vessels –

Translating vessels –

Angular velocity – the rate of change of angular position of a rotating body

Paraboloid of revolution –