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Fluid Mechanics

• A fluid is a material whose particles are free to move


their position. Liquids and gases are both fluids.

• Fluids can move and change the external shape to suit


the container.

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What is fluid?
As temperature changes, substances may appear in the
form of :

– solid,
– liquid,
– gas, or
– mixtures of the above.

e.g. the life cycle of an ice block.

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The life of an ice block

<0oC

0oC - 100oC

>100oC

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Density

• The density of a substance is defined to be its mass


per unit volume.

mass
Density 
volume

• Unit: kg/m3
• Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
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Archimedes’ Principle
• When an object is wholly or partially immersed in a fluid,
the upthrust on the object is equal to the weight of fluid
displaced.

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Example

• A block of aluminium has a volume of 0.1 m3 and a


density of 2700 kg/m3. Calculate :
(a) the weight of the aluminium block;
(b) the upthrust acting on the block when immersed
in water of density 1000 kg/m3;
(c) the apparent weight of the block when immersed
in water.

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Law of Flotation
• A floating object displaces its own weight of fluid in
which it floats.

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Example

• A block of wood of volume of 0.1 m3 and density of 700


kg/m3 floats in water of density 1000 kg/m3.
Calculate :
(a) the weight of the block,
(b) the weight of water displaced by the block,
(c) the volume of the block immersed in water.

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Pressure
 Pressure on a surface is defined as the force acting at
right angle on that surface divided by the area of the
surface.

F
p
A

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 The force that acts on the area which is submerged at a
depth in a fluid is equal to the weight of the column of
water above the area. The pressure is equal to this
weight of water column divided by the area.

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p  gh
where

p= pressure at a point in a fluid (N/m2 or Pa)


 = density of fluid (kg/m3)
h= vertical depth from surface of fluid to the point (m)

Pressure increases with the depth below the


liquid surface.
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Principle of Fluid Pressure
• Pressure at a given depth of fluid is equal in all directions.
• Pressure always acts at right angles to the containing
surfaces.
• Pressure is the same at points of equal depth, irrespective
of volume or shape.

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• Water is contained by a vertical surface producing a
triangular pressure diagram.

• The total force produced acts through the centroid of


the triangular pressure diagram.
i.e. One-third of the height of the pressure diagram

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Force on Immersed Surface
• The force acting on a surface can be calculated from the
pressure on the surface and the area of the surface.

F  paverage xA

• The centre of pressure is the point where the line of


action of the resultant force passes.

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Example
• A rectangular gate is 1.6 m wide and is retaining
water to a depth of 0.8 m.
(a) calculate the lateral force on the gate produced
by the water;
(b) calculate its centre of pressure; and
(c) calculate the moment produced by the lateral
force about the base of the rectangular gate.

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