Fluid Mechanics

CAPE Physics Unit 1

R.Wint

Objectives
Explain origin of uphrust in fluids
Calculate upthrust
Define drag force (aerodynamic
resistance)
Explain the origin of drag force
Relate drag force and terminal
velocity
Explain the application of streamline
shape
Draw free-body diagrams of objects in

Fluid Mechanics
Fluid Mechanics studies the effect
of forces experience by objects in a
fluid.
Fluid Statics : Upthrust,
Buoyancy Archimedes Principle
Fluid Dymanics: Drag forces,
Terminal Velocity

Fluid Properties
Particles in constant motion
Pressure: exert pressure on objects
because their particles are in
constant motion
P = Force/Area
Specific Density (m/V)
Specific Volume
Bouyancy
Viscosity: (Thickness) resistance
to deformation

Upthrust/Buoyant Force
Weight of object in liquid acts
downward
Upthrust is a force that acts
upwards on an object in a
fluid.
Upthrust = the weight of the
fluid displaced.
Mass of displaced Fluid =
Fluid Density x Object Volume

Archimedes Principle
Upthrust force = weight of fluid
displaced by object.
Mass of displaced Fluid = Fluid
Density x Object Volume

Origin of Upthrust
Deeper in a fluid, the
greater the pressure since
the weight of the fluid
increases P= pgh
The pressure on top
pushing the object
downwards is less than
the pressure acting
upwards because of the
difference in depth.
Upthrust is caused by
greater pressure of the
liquid on the base of the
object

Question
1. an object is immersed 6m is a
liquid with a density of 800kgm-3.
Calculate the pressure due to the
liquid
h= 6m
p = 800kgm-3
g = 9.8m-2
P= pgh
= 800x9.8x6 = 47 kPa

Example 2
A cube with sides 12 cm is submerged in water at a depth
of 30cm
30 cm

density of water = 1.0kgm-3

Calculate pressure at bottom surface of cube due to water

P = pgh
Calculate the pressure at the top surface of the cube due to
the water.

h= 30-12 = 18cm = 0.18m

P = 0.18*1000*9.8
Calculate the upthrust force

F = P/A = /0.12m2

Atmospheric Pressure
Total top pressure in an open liquid =
Liquid pressure + Atmospheric
Pressure

Flotation

Flotation

Fluid Dynamics
What is the forces affect a moving
object in a fluid?
Resistive forces known as Drag
Force

Drag Force (Air

Resistance)

Air Resistance or Drag - the resistive

force acting on an object by the fluid it
is moving through.
Origin:. As an object moves through
the fluid, it collides with its molecules,
displacing them as it falls.
The faster the object moves, the more
collisions and so the greater the
overall force due to air resistance.

Drag Force and Velocity

Factors that affect drag:

Density

Viscosity
Shape (Cross sectional area) of object

Speed of object
Drag force is proportional to the square
of the objects velocity

Fdrag = - bv2

* b is drag coeffecient
Drag increases with velocity!

Falling Objects
Free falling objects are influenced
only by gravitational force.
Regardless of mass or size, All
objects will experience same
acceleration downward.
Why then does a piece of paper fall
slower than the ball?
Ans: Air Resistance

Air Resistance and

Falling

Air is a fluid , so falling moving objects

will displace air molecule.
As an object falls, its velocity increases
as it accelerates downward, so air
resistance (drag) increase
Total Force acting on falling object is
Ftot = Fair + mg

Terminal Velocity
As an object falls from rest, its speed
increases and so too does the drag force
Terminal Velocity: the maximum velocity
at which drag force is equal to weight
Terminal velocity is constant thus
Zero acceleration
At Terminal velocity
Drag = bvterm2 = mg

Getting to Teerminal
Velocity

Skydiving Terminal Velocity

Lift Force

Origin of Lift Force

Lift:is produced by a lower pressure
created on the upper surface of an
airplane's wings compared to the
pressure on the wing's lower
surfaces, causing the wing to be
LIFTED upward

 Streamline design enhances the lift

force allowing a 20 tonne aeroplane
to fly in the air