Mechanics
Benno Rahardyan
Definition of a Fluid
A fluid is a substance that flows under the action of shearing
forces. If a fluid is at rest, we know that the forces on it are in
balance.
A gas is a fluid that is easily compressed. It fills any vessel in
which it is contained.
A liquid is a fluid which is hard to compress. A given mass of
liquid will occupy a fixed volume, irrespective of the size of
the container.
A free surface is formed as a boundary between a liquid and a
gas above it.
Density
The density of a fluid is defined as its mass per unit
volume. It is denoted by the Greek symbol, .
kg
water= 998 kgm-3
= m
kgm-3 V m3 air =1.2kgm-3
p= g h increase in
pressure
increase depth (m)
p1 p3 p1 = p2 = p3
p2
Measuring pressure (1)
Manometers
p1 = px (negligible pressure
change in a gas)
p1 (since they are at
p2=pa px = py
the same height)
z pz= p2 = pa
h
x y py - pz = gh
liquid p1 - pa = gh
density