Fluids

Mass density determines the behaviour of fluids. Mass density definition

𝑚
𝜌= and the unit kg/m3. Mass density depends on the nature of the material.
𝑉

(Table 11.1). Read section 11.1. and example 1.

𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
Specific gravity : definition 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 = .
𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

Any material with specific gravity less than 1000 has a chance of floating in water.

This will help us to compare the densities of material with water.

Pressure

Read section 11.2 and do example 2

Atmospheric pressure

There is enough air above the earth to create a pressure at sea level amounting to
1.013 × 105 𝑃𝑎 = 1𝑎𝑡𝑚. This pressure pushes inwards on our bodies just like pressure
of the object in water. The higher you go the atmospheric pressure decreases, hence less
pressure that pushes your body inward. Review CYU 1, 2,

Pressure and Depth in a Static Fluid

The relation between pressure and the depth of the water (liquid) is established. Read
section 11.3

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑃2 𝐴 − ( 𝑃1 𝐴 + 𝑚𝑔) = 0

𝑃2 𝐴 = 𝑃1 𝐴 + 𝑚𝑔
𝑚
but 𝜌= and 𝑉 = 𝐴ℎ
𝑉

𝑚 = 𝜌𝑉 = 𝜌𝐴ℎ

𝑃2 𝐴 = 𝑃1 𝐴 + 𝜌𝐴ℎ𝑔

𝑃2 = 𝑃1 + 𝜌ℎ𝑔
If the pressure P1 is known at the higher level, the larger P2 at the deeper end (level) can
be observed to be more by 𝜌ℎ𝑔.

Study example 4 and 5

CYU 4 – 7

Read section 11.4 – The Barometer

Used to measure atmospheric pressure. With the two levels of

pressures, equation
Becomes
𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 𝜌ℎ𝑔

Hence the atmospheric pressure, density of mercury and the

acceleration due to gravity can be used to determine the height of
the mercury within the tube . It has been calculated that the
atmospheric pressure at sea level is 𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 1.013 × 105 𝑃𝑎. Using this information, the
height of mercury through the tube was precisely measured to be ℎ = 760 𝑚𝑚.

The gauge pressure is defined as the difference between the atmospheric pressure and
the container pressure (absolute pressure ) where the container pressure is higher than
the atmospheric pressure i.e.
𝑃2(𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒) −𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ

How high would the water rise in a closed inverted column at the atmospheric pressure
of 1 atm? ( Ans 10.3 m.)

Pascal principle.
State the principle

Do example 7

(input pressure = output pressure)

𝑃1 = 𝑃2
𝐹1 𝐹2
=
𝐴1 𝐴2
𝐹1
𝐹2 = × 𝐴2
𝐴1

Example 8 - Follow – up to example 7

𝐹1 = 𝑃1 𝐴1 ……………….. (1)

𝑃2 = 𝑃1 + 𝜌ℎ𝑔 (at the lower end , hence have increment of 𝜌ℎ𝑔

𝑃1 = 𝑃2 − 𝜌ℎ𝑔

In (1) …………………(𝑃2 − 𝜌ℎ𝑔)𝐴1 = 𝐹1

𝐹2
Then [ − 𝜌ℎ𝑔] 𝐴1 = 𝐹1
𝐴2

Put the values and results with F1=127 N.

The value is smaller than the one in

example 7 since the weight of the oil
within 1.10 m already add up to the
input force

Archimedes’ Principle
In trying to push the object in liquid, the liquid pushes back with a force called Buoyant
force.

The differences in the two forces gives the Buoyant force FB ;

𝐹𝐵 = 𝐹2 − 𝐹1 = 𝑃2 𝐴 − 𝑃1 𝐴 = (𝑃2 − 𝑃1 )𝐴 = 𝜌ℎ𝑔𝐴= 𝜌𝑔𝑉

𝐹𝐵 = 𝜌ℎ𝑔𝐴= 𝜌𝑔𝑉

ℎ is the portion of the object immersed in liquid

If an object is immersed in liquid, the weight of the displaced fluid gives the buoyant
force. Archimedes principle – state it.

State in words, as an equation

𝐹𝐵 = 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 ; 𝐹𝐵 = 𝑚𝑔 = 𝜌ℎ𝑔𝐴= 𝜌𝑔𝑉

When the buoyant force (weight of the fluid displaced) is greater than the weight of the
object immersed , then the object will float.

𝐹𝐵 (𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 ) ≥ 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑

Example 9

Compute the weight of the block

𝑚𝑔 = 𝜌ℎ𝑔𝐴= 𝜌𝑔𝑉 = 26 000 𝑁

Calculate Buoyant force

𝐹𝐵 = 𝑚𝑔 = 𝜌ℎ𝑔𝐴= 𝜌𝑔𝑉 (water displaced) =47 000N

Since the buoyant force of the liquid displaced is greater than

the weight of the object immersed , then the object will float.

The buoyant force of liquid displaced equal to the weight of the object by Archimedes
Principle

FB (weight of the liquid) = ρhgA = 26 000 N (weight of the object)

26 000 N = ρgV(weight of the object)

26 000 N = ρg(4.0 m × 4.0 m × h)

h = 0.17 m

N.B. Any solid object will float in in liquid if the density of the material is less or equal to
the density of the liquid.

Example

FB (weight of the fluid) = ρhgA = ρgV(weight of the object immersed)

FB = ρg𝑉𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 = ρg𝑉𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑

𝑉𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 ρ𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑

=
𝑉𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑 ρ𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑

𝑉𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑
= 90%
𝑉𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑

Tutorial discussion

How high would the water rise in a closed inverted column at the atmospheric pressure
of 1 atm? ( Ans 10.3 m.)