FLUID MECHANICS & PROPERTIES OF MATTER

ELASTICITY:
1.

2.
3.

Stressm, Strain and Elastic Modulii : The precise definition of stress depends on the particular
situation being considered, but in general it is the force per unit area.
The strain indicates some fractional change in diamension or volume. The unit of stress is N/m2,
whereas strain is a dimensionless number.
A force applied to an object can change its dimensions and shape. In general, the response of a material
to a given type of deforming force is characterized by an elastic modulus, which is defined as :
Stress
Elastic modulus =
Strain
Tensile stress (F / A)
Youngs Modulus =
=
Tensile strain (L / L)

Shear Modulus =

Shear stress
Shear strian

Ft / A F y
=
, where x is the displacement of top surface relative to bottom surface, y is separation
x/y A x
between the top and the bottom surfaces.
Volume stress
Bulk Modulus =
Volume strain
p
B=
V / V
Energy Stored in a Wire:
F
Work done = average force extension =

2
=

4.

5.

1

2
Work done = YA


2

FLUID STATICS:
1.

2.

3.

4.

Hydrostatic Pressure: Pressure exists everywhere within a fluid. The hydrostatic pressure at a depth h
below the surface of a fluid is given by P = hg , where is the density of the fluid and g, the
acceleration due to gravity. The pressure is the same at all points at same horizontal level. The pressure
at any point in a fluid contained in a vessel is independent of the shape or size of the vessel.
Gauge Pressure: The pressure at any point in a fluid is equal to the sum of the atmospheric pressure P0
acting on its surface and the hydrostatic pressure hg due to the weight of the fluid above that point
which is at a depth h below the surface of the fluid. This is called the gauge pressure which is given by
P = P0 + hg .
Archimedes Principle: When a solid body is wholly or partly immersed in a fluid, it experiences an
upward thrust or buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by it. The word fluid
includes both liquids and gases.
Fup = V
g , where V is volume of the liquid displaced,
is density of liquid, g is acceleration due to

gravity.
Surface Tension : Surface tension is the force acting per unit length of an imaginary line drawn on the
surface of a liquid at rest. The work done to increase the surface area of a liquid is called surface energy.
Surface tension is equal to surface energy.
The SI unit of surface tension is Nm1 or Jm2.

5.

6.

7.

8.

i) Rise of a liquid in capillary tube: A liquid of density , surface tension T, angle of contact , rises
2T cos
in a capillary tube of radius r to a height h given by h =
.
rg
2T
.
ii) Excess pressure: The excess pressure inside a liquid drop of radius r is given by p =
r
4T
The excess pressure inside a liquid bubble of radius r is p =
.
r
2T
.
The excess pressure inside an air bubble of radius r in a liquid of surface tension is p =
r
iii) Capillary tube of varying radius: Suppose radius of the tube varies from r1 and r2 in its total
r r
length
. The radius at the position of meniscus r = r1 1 2 h .


2T cos
The rise of the liquid in the tube can be obtained by the formula h =
, by placing the value
rg
of r in terms of r1 and r2.
Bernoullis Principle : During stream-line flow of a liquid, the sum of the kinetic energy of the fluid,
and the gravitational potential energy of the fluid, and the potential energy due to the pressure of the
1
fluid, is a constant. Mathematically p + v 2 + gh = constant.
2
Continuity of Flow : If A1 and A2 are the areas of cross-section of a tube of a variable cross-section and
v1 and v2 are the velocities of flow of a fluid crossing these areas, then A1v1 = A 2 v 2 . This is the
equation of continuity of flow.
Torricellis Theorem : Velocity of Efflux
The velocity of efflux of a liquid through an orifice at a depth h below the surface of the liquid is the
same as that of a freely falling body from that height, i.e. v = 2gh .
Viscosity : The viscous force between two layers of a fluid of area A having a velocity gradient dv/dx is
dv
given by F = A , where is called the coefficient of viscosity. In SI units, is expressed in a
dx
unit called poiseuille (Pl).
1Pl = 1 Ns m 2

9.

Strokes Law: The viscous force on a spherical body of radius r moving through a fluid of viscosity

is given by F = 6 r v , where v is the velocity of the sphere.

2( )gr 2
.
9


PREVIOUS QUESTIONS:
1. A tiny spherical oil drop carrying a net charge q is balanced in still air with a vertical uniform electric

field of strength

81
105 Vm1 .
7

When the field is switched off, the drop is observed to fall with terminal

velocity
2 103 ms1. Given g = 9.8 ms2, viscosity of the air = 1.8 105 Ns m2 and the density of oil = 900 kg
m3, the magnitude of q is
a) 1.6 1019 C
b) 3.2 1019 C
c) 4.8 1019 C
d) 8.0 1019 C
Sol. (d)
Passage-1:
When liquid medicine of density is to be put in the eye, it is done with the help of a dropper. As the bulb
on the top of the dropper is pressed, a drop forms at the opening of the dropper. We wish to estimate the size
of the drop. We first assume that the drop formed at the opening is spherical because that requires a
minimum increase in its surface energy. To determine the size, we calculate the net vertical force due to the
surface tension T when the radius of the drop is R. When the force becomes smaller than the weight of the
drop, the drop gets detached from the dropper.
2. If the radius of the opening of the dropper is r, the vertical force due to the surface tension on the drop
of radius R (assuming r << R) is
a) 2rT

b) 2RT

c)

2r 2 T
R

d)

2R2 T
r

Sol. (c)
The vertical force due to the surface tension on the drop = T 2r sin
= T 2r

r 2r 2 T
=
R
R

If r = 5 104 m, = 103 kg m3, g = 10 m/s2, T = 0.11 Nm1, the radius of the drop when it detaches
from the dropper is approximately
b) 3.3 103 m
c) 2.0 103 m
d) 4.1 103 m
a) 1.4 103 m
Sol. (a)

3.

1/ 4

3 r 2T
2r 2 T
4
3 r 2T
=mg = R3pg or R4 =
R=

R
3
2 pg
2 pg

1/ 4

Substituting the given values, we get

3 5 104 5 104 0.11

2 103 10

R = 1.4 103 m
4. After the drop detaches, its surface energy is
b) 2.7 106 J
c) 5.4 106 J
a) 1.4 106 J
Sol. (b)
Surface energy = 4R2T
Here, R = 1.4 103m (From Q. No 41)
T = 0.11 N m1
Surface energy = 4 4

22
1.4 103 1.4 103 0.11 = 2.7 106 J
7

d) 8.1 106 J