Introduction to Fluid Mechanics

Before we dive into the world of fluid mechanics, it’s important to understand what a fluid is.

A fluid can exist in three states – solid, liquid, and gas. Anything that can flow or move can be considered a fluid. For example, water, air, and oil are all fluids.

Mechanics is the branch of science that studies force and its effects.

Fluid mechanics is a subfield of mechanics that studies the behavior of fluids under the action of forces.

Fluid mechanics can be further divided into three parts: Fluid statics, Fluid kinematics, and Fluid dynamics.

Fluid Statics: The study of fluids at rest is known as fluid statics. It focuses on understanding the pressure distribution and buoyant force acting on fluids at rest.

Fluid Kinematics: Fluid kinematics is the study of fluids in motion, neglecting pressure forces. It deals with understanding the motion of fluids, including their velocity and acceleration.

Fluid Dynamics: Fluid dynamics is the study of fluids in motion while considering pressure forces. It helps in understanding the forces that act on fluids in motion, such as lift and drag.

Fluids have different properties such as density, specific weight, specific volume, gravity, viscosity, surface tension, etc. Understanding these properties is crucial in understanding fluid mechanics.

Practical examples of fluid mechanics include- the flow of water in pipes, the lift force on an airplane wing, and the flow of blood in the human body.

In conclusion, fluid mechanics is an exciting field that studies the behavior of fluids under the action of forces. By understanding fluid mechanics, we can better understand the natural world around us and develop new technologies that rely on fluid properties.