PROPERTIES OF FLUIDS where: P = absolute pressure

 = density
 = specific volume
1.1. Definition of Terms R = a gas constant
T = absolute temperature
a. Fluid Statics
b. Kinematics From the above equation, specific weight
c. Fluid Dynamics () of gas can be calculated, thus
1.2. Distinctions Between a Solid and a Fluid
gP

1.3. Distinctions Between a Gas and a Liquid RT

1.4. Density, Specific Weight, Specific Volume, Gas constant (R) can be calculated, thus
and Specific Gravity
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a. Density R (N  m / kg  K )
m
mass (kg/m3)
 where m = molecular weight of the gas
volume

b. Specific Weight Gas constant (R) of air is 287 (Nm/kgK).

weight Molecular weights (m) of some common

 (N/m3)
volume gases:

c. Specific Volume Common Gases m

1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 44
volume (m /kg)
3 2. Oxygen (O2) 32

mass 3. Hydrogen (H2) 2
4. Chlorine (Cl2) 70
d. Specific Gravity 5. Nitrogen (N2) 28
6. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 64
 sample (unitless)
s
 water
1.9. Compressibility of Gases
sample (unitless)
s
 water 1.10. Ideal Fluid

1.11. Viscosity

1.5. Compressible and Incompressible Fluids 1.12. Capillarity

1.6. Compressibility of Liquids 1.13. Cohesion

1.7. Specific Weight of Liquids 1.14. Adhesion

1.8. Equation of State for Gases 1.15. Surface Tension

There is no such thing as perfect gas, but 1.16. Vapor Pressure of Liquids
air and other real gases that are far
removed from the liquid phase may be so
considered.

For a perfect gas, the equation of state is

P
 P  RT

1
Illustrative Examples: (350  101.3)(1000)(N / m 2 )

287(N  m / kg  K )(273  20)(K )
1.1. Calculate the density, specific weight, and
specific volume of chlorine gas with temperature  = 5.37 (kg/m3) (Ans.)
of 25C and absolute pressure of 600 kPa.

Solution: c. Specific Weight, 

a. Molecular weight of chlorine, m = 70.  = g = (5.37 kg/m3)(9.81 m/s2)

b. Gas constant of chlorine, R  = 52.68 (N/m3) (Ans.)

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R  d. Specific Volume, 
m 70
1 1
R  118.74 (Nm/kgK)  
 5.37
c. Density, 
 = 0.186 (m3/kg) (Ans.)
P

RT
1.3. If a certain gasoline weighs 7000 N/m3,
600(1000)(N / m2 ) what are the values of its density and specific

118.74(N  m / kg  K )(273  25)(K ) gravity relative to water at 15C?

 = 16.96 (kg/m3) (Ans.) Solution:

a. Density of gasoline, 
d. Specific Weight, 
 7000(N / m 3 )
 
 = g = (16.96 kg/m )(9.81 m/s )
3 2
g 9.81(m / s 2 )

 = 166.38 (N/m3) (Ans.)  = 713.557 (kg/m3) (Ans.)

e. Specific Volume,  b. Specific gravity, s

1 1 sample
  s
 16.96  water

 = 0.059 (m3/kg) (Ans.) water = 999.1 (kg/m3) at 15C (See Table)

713.557(kg / m 3 )
s
999.1(kg / m 3 )
1.2. Air with a temperature of 20C is
compressed inside a cylinder until the Bourdon s = 0.714 (Ans.)
gage reading becomes 350 kPa. If the
temperature remains unchanged, find the density,
specific weight, and specific volume of the air.
1.4. At approximately what temperature will
Solution: water boil if the elevation is 4000 meters?

a. Gas constant of air, R = 287 (Nm/kgK) Solution:

b. Density,  a. Absolute (atmospheric) pressure (Patm) at

4000 meters above sea level is 60.12 kPa.
P (Taken from the Table A.3 of Appendix 3,
 Air Properties at standard atmosphere.)
RT

2
 b. Then, from Table A.1 of Appendix 3, the a. Convert 758 mm Hg to kPa
saturation pressure of water is 60.12 kPa
(absolute) at about 86C.  1kPa 
Patm = (758mmHg)  
c. Hence, the water will boil at 86C at 4000  7.5mmHg 
meters above sea level. (Ans.) Patm = 101.07 kPa

b. Determining final gage pressure, P2

1.5. The atmospheric pressure is 980 millibars, Note: Since the tank is rigid, volume and
absolute and a gage connected to a tank reads specific weight remain unchanged despite
410-mm Hg vacuum. Find the absolute pressure increase in temperature and pressure.
within the tank in kPa.
gP
Solution: Applying 
RT
a. Converting 980 mbars to kPa
and 1   2
 1kPa 
Patm = (980mbars)   Therefore,
10mbars  gP1 gP
Patm = 98 kPa  2
RT1 RT2
b. Converting 410 mm Hg (vacuum) to kPa or
P1 P
 2
 1kPa  T1 T2
Pgage = (410mmHg)  
 7.5mmHg  Then,
Pgage = 54.67 kPa (vacuum)
P1 T2 (145  101 .07 )(70  273 )
P2  
c. Absolute pressure within the tank T1 (15  273 )
P2  293.06 kPa (absolute) (Ans.)
Pabs = Pgage + Patm = (-54.67) +98
P2  293.06 - 101.07
Pabs = 43.33 kPa (Ans.)
P2  191.99 kPa (gage) (Ans.)

1.6. A gas is compressed in a rigid tank at

145!kPa when its temperature is 15oC. If the Exercises:
temperature were raised to 70oC, what absolute
and gage pressures would the gas exert assuming 1.1. Nitrogen gas is compressed at gage pressure
a constant barometric pressure at 758-mm Hg? of 280 kPa in a 3 cubic meter cylinder while the
temperature is kept at 15C. Calculate the density,
Solution: specific weight, specific volume, and specific
gravity relative to air at 15C. Also, determine the
weight (Newton) of the gas.

1.2. At what temperature will the water boil if its

elevation is 3000 meters above sea level?

P1=145 kPa P2=? 1.3. If the water is heated from 10C to 60C, will
T1=15 Co
T2=70 C
o its density increase or decrease? By what value?
(Hint: Refer the Table of physical properties of
water.)

1.4. Certain oil weighs 8800 N/m3 at 25C.

Determine its density and specific gravity relative
Initial condition Final condition to water at 25C.