Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Physics · Class 11

Lesson 12 of 12 · 19 min

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Must-know facts

22 facts

  1. 01Pressure P = F/A (normal force); scalar; unit Pa = N m⁻²; dimensions [ML⁻¹T⁻²].
  2. 021 atm = 1.013 × 10⁵ Pa (1.01 × 10⁵ in the summary); 1 bar = 10⁵ Pa; 1 torr = 1 mm of Hg = 133 Pa.
  3. 03Density of water at 4 °C = 1.0 × 10³ kg m⁻³; relative density is a pure number.
  4. 04Pascal's law: equal pressure at equal heights in a fluid at rest; applied pressure is transmitted undiminished to every point.
  5. 05P = P_a + ρgh; gauge pressure P − P_a = ρgh; container shape does not matter (hydrostatic paradox).
  6. 06Barometer: P_a = ρgh, about 76 cm of mercury at sea level.
  7. 07Hydraulic lift: F₂ = F₁A₂/A₁, mechanical advantage A₂/A₁; distances A₁L₁ = A₂L₂.
  8. 08Syringes 1.0 cm and 3.0 cm diameter: 10 N becomes 90 N; 6.0 cm in gives 0.67 cm out.
  9. 09Streamlines never cross in steady flow; above a critical speed flow turns turbulent.
  10. 10Continuity: Av = constant for an incompressible fluid (conservation of mass).
  11. 11Bernoulli: P + ½ρv² + ρgh = constant along a streamline (energy conservation, ideal fluid, steady flow).
  12. 12Torricelli: v = √(2gh) from an open tank, the free-fall speed.
  13. 13Magnus effect: a spinning ball gets lift because air moves faster on one side than the other.
  14. 14Aircraft example: ΔP = 6.5 × 10³ N m⁻², upper-surface air only about 8% faster.
  15. 15η = (F/A)/(v/l); unit Pa s = N s m⁻² = poiseuille; dimensions [ML⁻¹T⁻¹].
  16. 16Liquid viscosity falls with temperature; gas viscosity rises.
  17. 17Stokes: F = 6πηav; terminal velocity v_t = 2a²(ρ − σ)g/(9η) ∝ a².
  18. 18Surface tension S = F/l per surface = surface energy per unit area; unit N m⁻¹ = J m⁻²; water 0.0727 N m⁻¹ at 20 °C.
  19. 19Surface tension usually falls with temperature.
  20. 20Angle of contact: acute for water-glass (wets), obtuse for mercury-glass (does not wet); S_la cos θ + S_sl = S_sa.
  21. 21Excess pressure: drop or air bubble in a liquid 2S/r; soap bubble in air 4S/r.
  22. 22Capillary rise h = 2S cos θ/(ρga); 2.98 cm for water in a 0.05 cm-radius tube; mercury is depressed.

Common traps

Where marks are lost

Formulas

16 to know

Pressure

P = F/A; P = lim ΔF/ΔA as ΔA → 0

Normal force only; scalar.

Density

ρ = m/V

Relative density = ρ/ρ_water(4 °C).

Pressure with depth

P₂ − P₁ = ρgh; P = P_a + ρgh

Gauge pressure = ρgh.

Barometer

P_a = ρ_Hg g h

h ≈ 76 cm at sea level.

Hydraulic lift

F₂ = F₁A₂/A₁; A₁L₁ = A₂L₂

Mechanical advantage A₂/A₁.

Continuity

A₁v₁ = A₂v₂ (Av = constant)

Incompressible steady flow; Av is the volume flow rate.

Bernoulli's equation

P + ½ρv² + ρgh = constant

Along a streamline; ideal fluid.

Speed of efflux

v = √[2gh + 2(P − P_a)/ρ]; open tank v = √(2gh)

Torricelli's law.

Lift on a wing

ΔP × A = weight; ΔP = ½ρ(v₂² − v₁²)

(v₂ − v₁)/v_av = ΔP/(ρv_av²).

Coefficient of viscosity

η = (F/A)/(v/l) = Fl/(vA)

Pa s; [ML⁻¹T⁻¹].

Stokes' law

F = 6πηav

Sphere of radius a at speed v.

Terminal velocity

v_t = 2a²(ρ − σ)g/(9η)

ρ sphere, σ fluid.

Surface tension

S = F/2l (film with two surfaces); S_la = W/2l

N m⁻¹ = J m⁻².

Angle of contact

S_la cos θ + S_sl = S_sa

θ acute: wets; θ obtuse: does not wet.

Excess pressure

drop or cavity: 2S/r; soap bubble: 4S/r

Concave side at higher pressure.

Capillary rise

h = 2S cos θ/(ρga)

a = tube radius; negative h (depression) when θ > 90°.

Key terms

16 terms

Fluid
A substance that can flow: a liquid or a gas.
Pressure
Normal force per unit area; a scalar measured in pascals.
Relative density
Density of a substance divided by the density of water at 4 °C.
Gauge pressure
Pressure above atmospheric pressure, P − P_a.
Hydrostatic paradox
Differently shaped connected vessels fill to the same level because only depth sets the pressure.
Torr
Pressure of 1 mm of mercury, 133 Pa.
Steady flow
Flow in which the velocity at each fixed point does not change with time.
Streamline
The path of a fluid particle in steady flow; its tangent gives the local velocity.
Turbulent flow
Unsteady, irregular flow that sets in above the critical speed.
Equation of continuity
Av = constant: conservation of mass for an incompressible fluid.
Magnus effect
Sideways or upward force on a spinning ball moving through a fluid.
Viscosity
Internal friction between layers of a fluid in relative motion.
Terminal velocity
Constant speed of a body falling through a fluid when drag and buoyancy balance its weight.
Surface tension
Force per unit length, or energy per unit area, of a liquid's interface.
Angle of contact
Angle inside the liquid between the liquid surface and the solid at their line of contact.
Capillary rise
The climb of a wetting liquid in a narrow tube, driven by surface tension.
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Mechanical Properties of Fluids Revision | Class 11 Physics