NPTEL

Assignments & Solutions

Chapter 1: Introduction and Fundamental Concepts

1. Three black marbles are dropped at the same time into three different fluids -oil, water,
and glycerol. Will they all fall at the same rate of speed?
Ans:
The marble will drop the fastest in the water and slowest in the glycerol. The reason is
due to the different viscosities of the fluids.

2. Distinguish between a solid and a fluid?

Ans:

Solid: Molecules of solid are closer together than those of fluid. It can resist an applied
shear by deforming. Stress is proportional to strain

Solid: intermolecular forces larger than in fluid

Elastic solid–deforms under load–recovers original state when unloaded

Plastic solid:–deforms under sufficient load–continues deforming as long as load is applied–

does not return to original state
Fluid deforms continuously under applied shear. Stress is proportional to strain rate
Intermolecular forces in fluid not large enough to hold elements together.
Fluid flows under slightest stress and continues flowing as long as stress is present

Page 1 of 7
3. Distinguish between a gas and a liquid
Ans:
Fluids: gases or liquids
•GAS: Molecules farther apart, Very compressible, Tends to expand indefinitely
A gas expands until it encounters the walls of the container and fills the entire available
space. Gases cannot form a free surface
•LIQUID: A liquid takes the shape of the container it is in and forms a free surface in the
presence of gravity
–Relatively incompressible
–If external pressure removed, does not expand
–May have a free surface (subject to its own vapor pressure)

4. Distinguish between Newtonian & Non-Newtonian Fluids

Even among fluids which are accepted as fluids there can be wide differences in behavior
under stress.
Fluids obeying Newton’s law where the value of µ is constant are known as Newtonian
fluids. If µ is constant, the shear stress is linearly dependent on velocity gradient. This is
true for most common fluids.
Fluids in whih the value of µ is not constant are known as non-Newtonian fluids. There
are several categories of these, and they are outlined briefly below.
These categories are based on the relationship between shear stress and the velocity
gradient (rate of shear strain) in the fluid.

5. Distinguish between Ideal and Real Fluids

Ideal Fluid: An ideal fluid is one which has no viscosity no surface tension and
incompressible

Page 2 of 7
 Real Fluid: A Real fluid is one which has viscosity surface tension and compressible.
Naturally available all fluids are real fluid.

6. Explain various properties of fluid.

Properties of fluids:
Density: The density of a substance is the quantity of matter contained in a unit volume
of the substance. It can be expressed in three different ways.
Mass Density: Mass Density, r, is defined as the mass of substance per unit volume.
Units: Kilograms per cubic meter, kg / m3 (or kgm-3)
Specific Weight: Specific Weight w, (sometimes g, and sometimes known as specific
gravity) is defined as the weight per unit volume. or
The force exerted by gravity, g, upon a unit volume of the substance.
The Relationship between g and w can be determined by Newton’s 2nd Law, since
weight per unit volume = mass per unit volume ´ g
w = rg
Units: Newton’s per cubic meter, N / m3 (or N m-3)
Relative Density: Relative Density, s , is defined as the ratio of mass density of a
substance to some standard mass density.
For solids and liquids this standard mass density is the maximum mass density for water.
Viscosity: Viscosity, m, is the property of a fluid, due to cohesion and interaction
between molecules, which offers resistance to sheer deformation. Different fluids
deform at different rates under the same shear stress.
Fluid with a high viscosity such as syrup deforms more slowly than fluid with a low
viscosity such as water.

7. Explain the concept of Fluid as Continum

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

8. Explain Newton’s Viscosity law

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

9. Write the classification of non-Newtonian fluids.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

10. What do you mean by viscosity of fluid explain?

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

11. Explain the phenomenon of surface tension.

Page 3 of 7
 http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

12. Explain the phenomenon of capillarity.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

13. What is vapor pressure? How can water boil even at room temperature?
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

14. What is meant by cavitation?

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

15. Write 3 basic laws applicable to fluid flow.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

Fluid Statics

1. What is meant by fluid static pressure?

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

2. Explain Pascal’s law

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

3. Explain the basic equations of fluid statics

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

4. How the Pressure variation in an incompressible fluid at rest takes place?

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

5. What are the various types of manometers? Explain

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

6. What do you understand by centre of pressure in fluid statics?

Page 4 of 7
 http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

7. What is buoyant force? Explain

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

8. Explain stability of submerged body.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

Fluid kinematics
1. Explain the 2 methods of describing fluid flow
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

2. Differentiate between steady and unsteady flow.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

3. Differentiate between uniform and non uniform flow

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

4. Explain one two and three dimensional flows.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

5. Differentiate between laminar and turbulent flows.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

Fluid Dynamics
1. Explain Energy equation for fluid flow.
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

2. What are the various causes for energy loss in flowing fluid? Explain Each casue.
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

Page 5 of 7
3. What are the various applications of Bernoulli’s equations?
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

4. Derive discharge equation of venturimeter ( Mathematical Analysis).

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

5. What is orifice meter? Explain. Give mathematical analysis for the same.
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

6. Explain the concept of Physical Interpretation Irrotational flow.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

7. What is meant by stream function? Explain.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

8. Get the Relation between Streamline and Potential lines

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

9. What is source and sink?

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

10. What are mouthpiece and its classification?

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

11. Explain convergent and divergent mouthpiece.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

12. What are notches and weirs and its classification?

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

Page 6 of 7
 13. What are the general characteristics of open channel flow? Derive energy equation for
open channel flow.
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

14. Explain subcritical and supercritical flow in open channel flow and how depth varies in
open channel flow.
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

15. What are the general characteristics of pipe flow?

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

16. Explain turbulent flow in pipe flow.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

17. Explain Reynolds Time-Averaging Concept in Turbulent Flow.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

Dimensional Analysis
1. Explain law of dimensional homogeneity
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

2. Explain Buckingham pi Theorem

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

3. Explain various dimensional numbers of fluid mechanics.

http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

4. Explain few model studies like flow through closed conduits, flow around immersed
bodies and flow in free surface.
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
%20Guwahati/fluid_mechanics/index.htm

Page 7 of 7