FLUID MECHANICS

P
FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS 𝜌=
RT

a) Specific Weight or Unit Weight (𝛾) - the weight of a unit volume of a fluid. where: P= absolute pressure in Pa
𝑊 𝛾
𝛾= or 𝑊= R= gas constant in N-m/kg-°K
𝑉 𝑉

where: 𝛾= specific/unit weight ,units: N/m3 or KN/m3 ( SI) for air R= 287 N-m/kg-°K

dyne/cm3 (metric) T= Absolute temperature in °K

lb/ft3 (English) 𝜌 = mass density in kg/m3

W= weight, N d. Specific Volume (v)- the volume per unit mass of fluid, or the reciprocal of the density.
𝑉 1 1
V = Volume, m3 𝑣= = or 𝜌=
𝑀 𝜌 𝑣

Note: For gases, where the specific unit weight varies with the pressure and where: 𝑣= specific volume, m3 /kg
temperature. It is computed by:
M= mass in kg
p
𝛾= where: 𝛾 = specific/unit weight, N/m3
RT
W= volume, m3
R= gas constant, m/°R
𝜌 = mass density, Kg/m3
for air R= 16.25 m/°R
e. Specific Gravity or Relative Density (s) – the dimensionless ratio of the density (or specific
T= Absolute Temperature, °R (°R= °F + 460) weight) of a substance to that of some other substance.

P= Absolute Pressure, Pa s= 𝜌/𝜌s or s= 𝛾 / 𝛾 s

b. Mass (M)- a quantitative measure of the amount of matter in a given body. where: 𝜌 = density of the fluid in kg/m3

M= W/g or W=Mg 𝜌s= density of the fluid in kg/m3

where: M= mass in Kg 𝛾 = specific weight of the fluid in N/m3

W= Weight in N 𝛾s= Specific weight of a standard fluid in N/m3

g= gravitational acceleration Note: 1. For liquids and solids the standard substance is pure water at 4 °C.

c. Mass Density (𝜌)- the mass per unit volume of a substance 𝜌s= 1000 kg/m3
𝑊⁄ 𝛾s= 9.81 KN/m3
𝑔
𝜌= or 𝛾=𝜌g
𝑉
2. For gases the standard substance is either hydrogen or air at 0°C and pressure of
where: 𝜌= Mass density in kg/m3 101.3 Kpa.
𝛾 = specific/unit weight For air: 𝜌s=1.29 kg/m3
g= gravitational acceleration 𝛾s= 12.7 N/m3
Note: for gases, the density is computed by: f. Viscosity
FLUID MECHANICS

f.1 Dynamic Viscosity (𝜇) – the property of a fluid which determines the amount of l. Bulk Modulus of Elasticity (E)- it expresses the compressibility of a fluid. It is the ratio of the
its resistance to a shearing stress. The shearing stress and the viscosity are related by; change in unit pressure to the corresponding volume change per unit of volume.
dV 𝑑𝑝
𝜏=𝜇 𝐸=
dY 𝑑𝑣/𝑣

where: dV/dY= velocity gradient , m/s-m where: dp= change in pressure

𝜏 = shearing stress, Pa v= volume

𝜇 = dynamic viscosity , N-s/m2 dv= change in volume

f.2 Kinematic Viscosity(v) – the ration of the dynamic viscosity to its mass density dv/v= decrease in fractional volume

where: v= kinematic viscosity, m2/s m. Compression of gases ( Boyle’s Law)

𝜇= dynamic viscosity, N-s/m2 For the same mass of gas subjected to different conditions, the product of absolute pressure
and volume divided by its absolute temperature is constant.
P= density, kg/m3
𝑝1 𝑉1 𝑝2𝑉2
=
g. Cohesion- this property refers to the intermolecular attraction by which the separate 𝑇1 𝑇2
particles of the fluids are held together. The property of a liquid which enables it to resist
where: p 1 = initial absolute pressure of gas
tensile stress.
p 2 = final absolute pressure of gas
h. Adhesion – the property of liquids which refers to the attractive force between molecules
and any solid substance with which they are in contact. V 1 = initial volume of gas

i. Surface Tension- the effect of cohesion particles of the liquid at its free surface. V 2 = Final volume of gas

T 1 = initial absolute temperature of gas in °K (°C + 273)

k. Capillarity – this property of the liquids is due to both cohesion and adhesion. If adhesion T 2 = final absolute temperature of gas in °K (°C + 273)
has greater effect than cohesion, the liquid will rise at the point where it comes in contact
with another body. If cohesion is prevalent, the liquid will be depressed.

The figure below illustrates capillary rise ( or depression) in a tube (capillarity tube), which is m.1 For Isothermal Conditions
given approximately by:
for a fixed temperature (T1=T2), the ideal gas law becomes,
2𝜎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
ℎ= p 1 V 1 =p 2 V 2 and
𝛾1 𝑝
= 1=constant
𝛾𝑟
𝛾2 𝑝2

where: h= height of capillary rise (depression) m.2 For Adiabatic or Isentropic Conditions
𝜎= surface tension if no heat is exchange between the gas and its container, the ideal gas law
𝜃= wetting angle (if the tube is clean, 𝜃= 0° for water and 140° for becomes,
mercury) 𝛾 𝑝
p 1 v 1 k =p 2 v 2 k or ( 1) k = 1=constant
𝛾2 𝑝2
𝛾= specific weight of liquid
Also,
r= radius of tube
FLUID MECHANICS
𝑇2 𝑝
= ( 2) (k-1)/k
T1 p1

where: k= the ratio of the specific heat at constant pressure to the specific heat at
constant volume

n. Pressure disturbances – imposed on a fluid move in waves. The velocity or

celerity is expressed as:

𝐸
𝑐=√
𝑝

where: c= celerity or velocity of pressure wave in m/s

E= Bulk Modulus of elasticity of the fluid in Pa

For Gases, the acoustic velocity is,

𝑘𝑝
𝑐 = √ =√𝑘𝑔𝑅𝑇
𝑝

PRESSURE
-Force per unit area is exerted by fluid particle on an adjacent fluid particle

TYPES OF PRESSURE

1) GAGE Pressure- pressure that is measured by a pressure gage.

2) ABSOLUTE Pressure- true pressure
3) ATMOSPHERIC Pressure- Barometric pressure
101.325 kPa (if not given)
14.7 psi

Pabs = Pgage + Patm

PROBLEM SOLVING PRINCIPLES

For any fluid, pressure increases with depth

Same elevation, same liquid, same pressure.
For fluid whose density is not given; thus its density is presumed to be negligible.
FLUID MECHANICS

Situation I: Glycerin having a volume of 0.452 m3 weighs 5587 N.

a. 20.04 kPa c. 15.57 kPa
1. What is the unit weight of glycerin? b. 10.32 kPa d. 32.50 kPa
a. 25.786 KN/m3 c. 20.686 KN/m3
b. 15.324 KN/m3 d. 12.361 KN/m3 Situation III: A 3.5 m square plate is immersed in water in a vertical position such that the
2. What is the density of the glycerin? two edges of the square are horizontal. The immersion is such that the center of the pressure
a. 1260 kg/m3 c. 1230 kg/m3 in the plate is 12 cm from the center of gravity.
b. 1500 kg/m3 d. 2300 kg/m3
3. What is the specific gravity of the glycerin? 9. How far below the water surface should the upper part of the plate be submerged?
a. 1.4 c. 2.3 a. 6.76 m c. 8.51 m
b. 1.26 d. 3.2 b. 8.63 m d. 1.75 m
10. What is the distance of the center of pressure from the water surface?
Situation II: If the pressure 28 m below a liquid surface is 631.764 kPa, a. 6.76 m c. 8.51 m
b. 8.63 m d. 1.75 m
4. Determine the unit weight of the liquid 11. Determine the hydrostatic force acting on the plate.
a. 22.563 KN/m3 c. 12.361 KN/m3 a. 1022.3 kN c. 3022.1 kN
b. 15.313 KN/m 3 d. 33.421 KN/m3 b. 2203.1 kN d. 2123.0 kN
5. Determine its mass density.
a. 1500 kg/m3 c. 1260 kg/m3 Situation IV: The gate AB shown is hinged at A and kept closed by a force P at B. P air = 18.46
b. 2300 kg/m3 d. 14230 kg/m3 kPa vacuum.
6. What is the specific gravity?
a. 1.5 c. 2.6
b. 2.3 d. 3.36
7. In the figure shown, if the atmospheric pressure is 101.03 kPa and the absolute
pressure at the bottom of the open tank is 231.1 kPa, what is the specific gravity of
the unknown liquid?

12. Determine the nearest value of the total force exerted by the oil on the plate.
a. 145.20 kN c. 165.30 kN
b. 155.18 kN d. 135.15 kN
a. 3.85 c. 1.38 13. Compute the value of the location of the total force from A.
b. 6.1 d. 4.93 a. 4.82 m c. 5.23 m
8. In the figure shown, determine the pressure difference between points A and B. b. 3.15 m d. 2.46 m
14. Which of the following gives the value of the force P needed to keep the gate
closed?
a. 124.68 kN c. 142.86 kN
b. 114.68 kN d. 162.48 kN

Situation V: Given is 2 m x 4 m gate, inclined at 60 degrees from the horizontal, and is located
at the bottom of the tank as shown in the figure.
FLUID MECHANICS

20. Determine the magnitude of the horizontal component of the force that will keep
the cylinder touching the tank at A.
a. 374.4 lbs c. 1123.2 lbs
b. 748.8 lbs d. 2231.4 lbs
21. Determine the resultant force that will keep the cylinder touching the tank at A.
15. Determine the magnitude of the total hydrostatic force acting on the gate.
a. 919.82 lbs c. 1764.3 lbs
a. 81.64 kN c. 733.16 kN
b. 2261.06 lbs d. 2134.1 lbs
b. 296.65 kN d. 563.87 kN
22. A block has a mass of 400 kg in air. When submerged in seawater (s=1.03), it
16. Determine the distance of the total hydrostatic from the center of the gravity of
weighs 2943 N. What is the specific gravity of the block?
the gate.
a. 9.81 c. 4.12
a. 2.1 m c. 0.16 m
b. 2.79 d. 8.23
b. 0.59 m d. 1.2 m
23. A wooden block 12”x12”x9” having a specific gravity of 1.65 floats in a layer of 7
Situation VI: The tank shown is 3 m wide into the paper. Unit weight of water is 9,79 kN/m3 inches water and 10 inches mercury. Find the depth of the block submerged in
mercury measured from the water and mercury interface.
a. 0.46” c. 0.58”
b. 0.23” d. 0.87”

Situation VII: A piece of wood floats in water with 5 cm projecting above the water surface.
When placed in glycerin (s= 1.35), the wood floats 7.5 cm projecting above the glycerin
surface.

17. Determine the vertical component of the total hydrostatic force on the quarter 24. Determine the height of the wood.
circle panel ab, in kN. a. 14.64 cm c. 37.83 cm
a. 118.8 c. 955.5 b. 17.85 cm d. 7.89 cm
b. 1164.1 d. 1505.4 25. Determine the specific gravity of the wood.
18. Determine the total hydrostatic force acting on the quarter circle panel ab, in kN. a. 0.658 c. 0.146
a. 198.1 c. 955.4 b. 1.922 d. 2.345
b. 1164.1 d. 1505.4 26. Determine the weight of the wood if cross-sectional area is 20 cm by 20 cm.
19. Calculate the angle that the resultant hydrostatic force makes with the horizontal, a. 37.8 N c. 14.6 N
in degrees. b. 65.8 N d. 7.89 N
a. 50.6 c. 64.0
Situation IX: A hollow cylinder 1.1 m in diameter and 2.4 m long weighs 3825 N.
b. 34.3 d. 54.6
27. How many Kn of lead weighing 110 kN/m3 must be fastened to the outside bottom
Situation VII: In the figure shown, the 8-ft diameter cylinder, 3-ft long, weighs 550 lbs and
to make the cylinder float vertically with 1.9 m submerged in fresh water?
rests on the bottom of a tank that is 3 ft long. Water and oil are poured into the left-hand
a. 10.12 kN c. 18.21 kN
and right-hand of the tank to depths 2 ft and 4 ft, respectively.
b. 10.25 kN d. 15.24 kN
FLUID MECHANICS

28. How many kN of lead weighing 110 kN/m3 must be placed inside the cylinder to a. 220.6 psf c. 499.2 psf
make the cylinder float vertically with 1.9 m submerged in fresh water? b. 530.2 psf d. 437.8 psf
a. 9.82 kN c. 13.86 kN
b. 10.25 kN d. 16.43 kN Situation XIII: An open cylindrical tank 3 ft in diameter and 5 ft high is three fifths full of
29. What additional load must be placed inside the cylinder to make the top flush with water. If the tank is rotated about its vertical axis,
the water surface? 38. What angular speed should it have so that the water would just reach the rim of
a. 4.66 kN c. 7.21 kN the tank?
b. 8.43 kN d. 11.05 kN a. 10.7 rad/sec c. 11.96 rad/sec
Situation X: Two spheres, each 1.3 m in diameter weighs 5 kN and 13 kN, respectively. They b. 14.56 rad/sec d. 16.87 rad/sec
are connected with a short rope and placed in water. 39. What speed should it have so that the depth of water at the center is zero?
a. 102.2 rpm c. 114.2 rpm
30. What is the tension in the rope? b. 140.6 rpm d. 187.1 rpm
a. 1.72 kN c. 5.76 kN 40. What speed should it have so that there is no water at bottom within 1 ft from the
b. 11.23 kN d. 0.78 kN vertical axis?
31. What portion of the lighter sphere protrudes from the water? a. 102.2 rpm c. 115.3 rpm
a. 40.45% c. 59.63% b. 139.1 rpm d. 153.3 rpm
b. 68.52% d. 31.17%
Situation: IV An open cylindrical tank 30 cm in diameter and 80 cm high partially filled with
Situation XI: An open rectangular tank mounted on a truck is 5 m long, 2 m wide, and 2.5 m water is rotated about its vertical axis at a speed of 240 rpm.
high is filled with water to a depth of 2m.
41. What would be the depth of water if the tank is brought to rest so that no water
32. What maximum horizontal acceleration can be imposed on the tank without will be spilled out?
spilling any water? a. 0.36 m c. 0.44 m
a. 1.962 m/s2 c. 12.162 m/s2 b. 0.32 m d. 0.72 m
b. 5.942 m/s2 d. 9.261 m/s2 42. At what speed would it be rotated so that 1.40 liters of water will be spilled out?
33. Determine the maximum accelerating force acting on the liquid mass without a. 242.75 rpm c. 256.30 rpm
spilling water. b. 245.80 rpm d. 249.65 rpm
a. 39.24 kN c. 20.50 kN 43. At what speed should it be rotated so that the pressure at the center of the bottom
b. 10.62 kN d. 28.05 kN of the tank is zero?
34. If the acceleration is increased to 6 m/s2, how much water is spilled out? a. 256.73 rpm c. 248.97 rpm
a. 10.22 m3 c. 9.78 m3 b. 258.32 rpm d. 252.22 rpm
b. 4.09 m3 d. 21.45 m3
35. A closed horizontal cylindrical tank 1.5 m in diameter and 4 m long is completely
filled with gasoline(s=0.82) and accelerated horizontally at 3m/s2. Find the total
force acting at the rear wall of the tank.
a. 10.62 kN c. 28.05 kN
b. 21.22 kN d. 5.67 kN

Situation XII: An open vessel 10 ft in diameter containing 8 ft of water is being raised.

36. Determine the pressure at the bottom in psf when the velocity is costant.
a. 220.6 psf c. 499.2 psf
b. 530.2 psf d. 437.8 psf
37. Determine the pressure at the bottom in psf when it is accelerating 2 ft/s2
upwards.