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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics

INTRODUCTIONS AND BASIC CONCEPTS IN
FLUID MECHANICS

Hello Science majors! Welcome to the world of FLUID MECHANICS.

I. INTRODUCTION:

This course will provide the student with a basic understanding of fluid properties, fluid statics, dynamics
and fluid flow. The students then apply concepts in these topics to application in problem solving and real life
situation.

The module will give you an overview to understand the behavior of fluid under various forces, at different
atmospheric conditions and to select the proper fluid for various applications.

II. OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Define fluid mechanics.
2. Enumerate the basic properties of fluid mechanics.
3. Cite an application of fluid mechanics in real life situation.

III. PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

In this module, we will have a closer look at Fluid Mechanics. We will discuss its origin as well as
the people behind its development. First, let us define Fluid Mechanics by using this puzzle.

DIRECTIONS: Arrange the jumbled words below to define and give

brief descriptions of fluid mechanics, you can use also the image
as a hint.

rest motion and study

of at in fluids

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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics

Before you proceed to the main lesson, test yourself in this activity.

Identify the statements that describe Fluid Mechanics by putting a check mark () in the box
before the statement.
1. Mechanics is the oldest physical science that deals with both stationary and moving
boundaries under the influence of forces.
2. The 2 branches of Fluid mechanics are Fluid Statics and Fluid Dynamics.
3. The interaction of fluids and solids or other fluids at the boundary or in motion is known as
Fluid Statics
4. Fluid comes from the French word “that which flows “and mechanics corresponds to “applied
mathematics”
5. There are eight (8) properties of fluid it includes pressure, density, temperature, viscosity,
thermal conductivity coefficient of compressibility/ Bulk Modulus, Coefficient of Volume
Expansion and Specific Heat

GREAT!!!
You may now proceed to the main lesson.

Based on the preliminary activities, what did you notice about it?
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CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to the lesson.
IV. LESSON PROPER
Lesson 1: History of Fluid Mechanics
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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics

Activity 1:
Create a well-planned timeline about the history of Mechanical Fluid. Place your organizer below:
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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics
LESSON 1. 2. BASIC CONCEPTS IN FLUID MECHANICS
FLUID MECHANICS is the study of behavior (liquid, gases, blood and plasma) at rest and in motion.
It has a wide range of applications in mechanical and chemical engineering in biological system and in
astrophysics. In this module fluid mechanics and its application in biological system are presented and
discussed. First the fluid mechanics governing the equations and blood properties are explained. In the
following lesson different models for blood as a non - Newtonian fluid are presented. In addition, the blood
flow in three important parts of human cardiovascular system arteries, vein and capillaries, is studied.
Since FLUID MECHANICS is the study of fluid at rest and in motion. There are five relationships
that are most useful in fluid mechanics problem: kinematics, stress, conservation and regulating and
constitutive. The analysis of fluid mechanics problems can be altered depending on the choice of the system
of interest and the volume of the interest which govern the simplification of vector quantities.

THINGS TO REMEMBER!
WHY DO BIRDS FORM VORTICES WHEN THEY
FLUID - a state of matter that yields to
MIGRATING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER? sideways or shearing forces. Liquids and
gases are both fluids.
VISCOSITY- quantity that describe fluid
resistance to flow
NEWTONIAN FLUID - are in which shear
stress proportional to velocity gradient
such as lubricating oil.

Have you ever wonder the movements of birds in the air?

This can be explained by FLUID MECHANICS. The
birds are migrating from one place to another fly in group.
When a bird pushes it wings downward, a high pressure is
form below the wings. This high pressure moves to the low
pressure and so the wings move upward. This birds make a
birds to fly.
At the tip of the bird wings, vortices are formed. The
birds which is fly next gets the force from the vortices that
are formed by the movement of wings of the first bird. So
that it need to have put more force. Thus more energy is not
required for the birds with are following the first bird.
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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics
LESSON 1.3. PROPERTIES OF FLUID

- Density
- Viscosity
PROPERTIES - Temperature
- Pressure
OF - Specific Volume
FLUID - Specific Weight
- Gravity

Properties of Fluids determine how fluid can be determine in Engineering and Technology. They also
determine the behavior of fluids in fluids mechanics. The followings are some of the important basic properties
of fluids:
1. DENSITY - the mass per unit volume of a fluid. In other words, It is the ratio between mass (m) and volume
(v) of a fluid.

Sample Problem:
If a liquid has a mass of 352g and a volume of 0.546L,
What is the density of the liquid in g/mL?
Given: m = 352 g v = 0.546
D= M/V
352 g 1L

0.546 L 1000mL

D = 0.645g/mL
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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics
In general, density of a fluid decreases with increase in temperature. It increase with increase in
pressure.
The ideal gas equation is given by :

The above equation is use to find the density of any fluid, If the pressure (P)
and temperature (T) are unknown.

2. VISCOSITY - a fluid property that determines the amount of resistance of the fluid to shear stress.
- In liquid, viscosity decreases with increase temperature. In gas, viscosity increases with
increase in temperature.

VISCOSITY is the property of the fluid due to which the fluid offers
resistance to flow of one layer of the fluid over another adjacent layer.

3. TEMPERATURE - It is the property that determines the degree of hotness or coldness or the level of the
heat intensity of a fluid. Temperature is measure by using temperature scales. There are 3
commonly used temperature scales.
 Celcius / Centigrade Scale
 Fahrenheit Scale
 Kelvin Scale

Kelvin scale is widely

used in engineering.
This is because the
scale is independent
of properties of a
substance
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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics
4. PRESSURE - the force per unit area of the fluid. In other words it is the ratio of force on a fluid to the
area of the fluid held perpendicular to the direction of the force.
- Pressure is denoted by the letter “P”. Its unit is N/m².
5. SPECIFIC VOLUME - the volume of the fluid (v) occupied per unit mass (m). It is the reciprocal of the
density
- Specific Volume is denoted by the symbol “v”. Its unit is m³/kg.

6. SPECIFIC WEIGHT - Is the weight possessed by unit volume of a fluid. It is denoted by “w”.
- Its unit is N/m³
- Specific weight varies from place to place due to the change of acceleration due to
gravity (g)
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7. SPECIFIC GRAVITY - It is the ratio of specific weight of the given fluid.

- It is denoted by the letter “S”.
- It has no unit

- It may also defined as the ratio between densities of the given fluid to the density
of the standard fluid.

We had just finished the discussion on the overview of the introduction and
basic concepts in fluid mechanics. Let’s move on to the next higher level of
activity/ies or exercise/s that demonstrate your potential skills/knowledge of what
you have learned.
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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics

V. ANALYSIS, APPLICATION AND EXPLORATION

ACTIVITY 1
Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________

FLUID MECHANICS

I. Define the following terms:

1. Fluid
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2. Mechanics

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3. Dynamics
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4. Static
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II. Using the image of iceberg below, define and describe fluid mechanics in your own words. State
your answer in 2 -3 sentences.
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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics

ACTIVITY 2
Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________

PROPERTIES OF FLUID

I. Solve the following problems write your complete solutions on the space provided inside the box .
1. Find the mass of ethyl alcohol that exactly fills the a 200.0 mL container? The density of ethyl alcohol is
0.789 g/mL

2. Calculate the density and specific gravity of sulfuric acid from the information that 35.4mL of the acid
weighs 65.14g.

3. Given the volume of oil which is 3 liters and the weight is 20N, determine the specific volume, relative
density and specific weight of oil.

II. Conversion of temperature units. Complete the table.

Kelvin (K) Celsius ( C ) Fahrenheit (F)
278
65
390
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ACTIVITY 3
Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________

In 2 - 3 sentences, answer the following questions which is related in fluid mechanics.

1. “How does fluid mechanics relate to flight?”

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2. When you drop a penny in a cup of water, it will sink, but why does an ocean liner float though it
is made up of steel?
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3. Is this cat in the image below relates to a property of fluid / fluid mechanics?
Yes or no, Justify your answer.

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Finally, let us summarize the lesson of what we had discussed today.

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Introduction and Basic Concepts in Fluid Mechanics

VI. GENERALIZATION

Reflection
After learning a lot of concept about Fluid Mechanics, it is time for you to reflect about the things you found
out, the things that you found interesting and the question you still have in your mind. Just complete the table
below.

Things I learned Things I found interesting Things I still want to know

CONGRATULATIONS!
You have come to an end of Module 2.
OOPS! Don’t forget that you have still an assignment to do.
Here it is….
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VII. ASSIGNMENT
Name: __________________________ Year & Section: __________________

I. PROBLEM SOLVING. Calculate the following problems in properties of fluid.

1. Calculate the density and specific gravity of ammonia gas from the information that
8.9L of the gas weighs 65.14 g.
Answer: ____________
2. A block of lead has dimension of 4.5 cm by 5.2 cm by 6 cm. The block weighs 1587
g. Calculate the density and specific gravity of the lead.
Answer:__________
3. What volume of silver metal will weigh exactly 25000 g? The specific gravity of silver
is 10.5 ?
Answer: _________

II. CONVERSION OF TEMPERATURE UNITS. Complete the table.

Kelvin (K) Celsius ( C ) Fahrenheit (F)
87
350
430

III. In your house, proceed to your kitchen and look for at least 5 things which are the application of
fluid mechanics in our everyday lives. Write your answer on the space provided.

(This assignment will be submitted on ________________.)

After your long journey of reading and accomplishing the module, let us now
challenge your mind by answering the evaluation part of this module.
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VIII. EVALUATION
Name:______________________________ Grade & Section: __________________
Choose the letter of the correct answer and write 4. The specific gravity of a liquid has :
in before the item number.
A. The same unit as that of mass density
1. Which one of the following is the unit of specific
weight? B. The same unit as that of weight density
A. N=m³ C. The same unit as that of specific volume
B. N=m²
D. No unit
C. N=m
D. N=ms Answer:_____________
Answer: __________
5. Which of the following is the unit mass density?
2. An compressible fluid’s specific gravity was
measured on Earth, on a planet having A. Kg = m³
acceleration due to gravity 5.5 times that of B. Kg = m²
Earth, and in space at STP. Where will it be C. Kg =m
having highest value. Where will it be having
D. Kg = ms
highest value?
A. On the Earth Answer: ___________
B. On the planet
C. In the space
6. It is a state of matter that yields to sideways or
D. It will be constant everywhere
shearing forces.
Answer: _________
A. Viscosity

3. The specific volume of a liquid is the reciprocal B. Newtonian Fluid

of: C. Fluid
A. Weight density D. Specific Gravity
B. Mass density Answer: __________
C. Specific weight
D. Specific volume 7. You have a sample granite with density 2.8
Answer: _________ g/cm³. the density of water is 1.0g /cm³. What
is the specific gravity of your granite?
A. 2.8
B. 8.2
C. 8.0
D. 3.5
Answer: _______
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8. You decide to carry a boulder home from the beach. It is 30cm on each sides and so has a volume of
27,000cm³. It has made of granite, which has a typical density of 2.8 g / cm ³. How much will this boulder
weigh?
A. 72, 000 g
B. 75,000 g
C. 75, 600 g
D. 78, 000 g
Answer: _______

9. It is the ability of fluid to resist from flowing.

A. Viscosity
B. Density
C. Pressure
D. Buoyancy
Answer: _______

10. Which of the following statements is not correct?

A. There are 2 branches of fluid mechanics, the fluid statics and fluid dynamics
B. Fluid Mechanics defines as study of fluids at rest and in motion
C. Viscosity is the quantity that describe fluid resistance to flow.
D. Fluid Statics are fluids in motion.
Answer: _______

(This evaluation will be submitted on ________________.)

CONGRATULATIONS on reaching the end of this module!

You may now proceed to the next module.
Don’t forget to submit all the exercises, activities and portfolio
on ___________________.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Well Done!