NAME: AKAI-NETTEY MANASSEH DUKE

INDEX NUMBER: 01221647B

COURSE TITLE: FLUID MECHANICS I

COURSE CODE: CVE 105

Fluid mechanics, the study of fluids and their behavior, has played an important role in
shaping our understanding of the physical world. From the ancient civilizations’ effort to
harness the power of water to modern engineering advancements in aerodynamics and
hydrodynamics, the history of fluid mechanics is a fascinating tale of scientific discovery and
technological innovation.
Fluid mechanics started in ancient Egypt, approximately 500 BC. These societies recognized
the significance of fluid flow in different contexts like, irrigation of crops, shipbuilding,
development of drainage systems to collect rainwater among others. But Archimedes, around
250 BC, gave the fundamental principles of hydrostatics and dynamics in his work on
floating bodies. He developed law the law of buoyancy also known as Archimedes’ principle.
During the Middle Ages, Islamic physicists and engineers like Abu Rayhan Biruni, Al-
Khazini, and the Banu Musa brothers were the first to apply experimental scientific methods
to fluid mechanics. They determined specific weights using these experiments like the
weights of fresh and saline water as well as those of hot and cold water. The Banu Musa
brothers described several automated controls in fluid mechanics like the two-step level
control of fluids.
The Renaissance Era marked a turning point in the study of fluid mechanics, as scientists
began to adopt a more mathematical approach. Leonardo da Vinci stated the equation of
conservation of mass in one-dimensional steady-state flow. Manuscripts of Blaise Pascal
published in 1663, after his death, stated the laws of equilibrium of liquids. Isaac Newton
postulated his laws of motion and the law of viscosity of linear fluids also called Newtonian
fluids. Daniel Bernoulli discovered that as the speed of a fluid increases, its pressure
decreases. The principle is now known as Bernoulli’s principle. Leonhard Euler added both
differential equations of motion and their integral form to the Bernoulli principle. He and
Jean le Rond d’Alembert represented the theory of fluids in formulae restricted by no
particular hypothesis.
In the 19th century, Claude-Louis Navier and George Gabriel Stokes derived the fundamental
equations governing fluid flow. These equations describe the conservation of mass,
momentum, and energy in fluid systems. Improvements were made in the field with the
development of boundary layer theory and the use of computers to run simulations and solve
complex systems. The history of fluid mechanics shows humanity’s desire to understand and
manipulate the world around us by building on the knowledge of the previous generation.
 IMPORTANCE OF FLUID MECHANICS

Fluids are abundant in our daily lives and are essential for the survival of the Earth. They
have a significant impact on the functioning of the world and the bodies of living organisms,
including humans. Fluids encompass a wide range of substances, including gases and liquids,
and are characterized by their ability to flow and deform under the influence of shearing
stress.
Fluid mechanics provides us with valuable knowledge to effectively harness the power of
fluids, making our lives easier in various ways. The applications and importance of fluid
mechanics extend across multiple domains, from transportation and energy production to the
functioning of our bodies and basic home appliances.
In the field of transportation, fluids such as petrol and diesel are burned in engines to propel
vehicles, while oil is utilized to lubricate the engine, gears, and other moving parts.
Knowledge derived from fluid mechanics is also applied to optimize the airflow over aircraft,
reducing drag and increasing lift. Additionally, fluid mechanics plays a crucial role in
understanding the movement of ships and boats on water bodies.
In terms of energy production, fluid mechanics is instrumental in the functioning of
hydroelectric power plants like Akosombo, where water is channeled to spin turbines,
generating electricity. Similarly, in thermal power plants, water is evaporated to produce
steam, which drives turbines. Furthermore, windmills utilize the flow of wind to spin large
blades, generating electricity through a generator.
Understanding the properties and functions of bodily fluids, such as blood, water, and gases,
is paramount in the field of biomechanics, which examines the interaction between living
organisms and mechanical systems.
Fluids also play a crucial role in household appliances like refrigerators, gas cookers, and
vacuum cleaners. Refrigerators utilize a refrigerant to cool substances within, while
simultaneously releasing heat to the environment. Gas cookers rely on the combustion of
LPG to produce fire for cooking purposes. Vacuum cleaners employ suction mechanisms,
leveraging the properties of fluids, to effectively clean various surfaces.
In conclusion, fluids permeate numerous aspects of our lives, and fluid mechanics provides
us with the knowledge to harness their power for our benefit. From transportation to energy
production, and even within our own bodies and household appliances, understanding and
utilizing the principles of fluid mechanics is essential for a wide range of applications.