Module 5: Fluid Mechanics

Topic 1: Density and Specific Gravity

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

 Define density and specific gravity
 Relate density, specific gravity, mass, and volume to each other

Engage
Look at this video to learn more about Density and Specific Gravity.

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/fluids/density-and-pressure/v/specific-gravity

Explore

Fluids play a vital role in our everyday lives as we drink them, breathe them, and swim in
them. A fluid is any substance that flows or continually deforms under an applied shear stress.
Since liquids and gases can flow, they are collectively referred to as fluids. Fluid behaves
differently from solid as fluid has a different molecular structure than solid bodies. In this module,
the physical characteristics of static or stationary fluids and some of the laws that govern their
behavior will be discussed. Fluid mechanics is the branch of mechanics that deals with the
properties of fluids in various states and their reaction to forces acting upon them.

Matter most commonly exists as a solid, liquid, or gas which are known as the three
common phases of matter. Solids have a definite shape and a specific volume. Liquids have a
definite volume but their shape changes depending on the container in which they are held. Gases
have neither a definite shape nor a specific volume as their molecules move to fill the container in
which they are held. Liquids and gases are fluids because they yield to shearing forces,
whereas solids resist them.

An important property of any material is density. It is crucial, for example, in determining

whether an object sinks or floats in a fluid. Density is defined as mass per unit volume. In equation
form,

ρ=m/V,

where the Greek letter ρ (rho) is the symbol for density, m is the mass in grams or kilograms,
and V is the volume occupied by the substance in cm3 or m3.

The specific gravity of a material is the ratio of its density to the density of water at 4ºC,
1000kg/ m3 or 1g/cm3. The specific gravity tells whether the material will sink or float in water. A
material with a specific gravity ratio greater than 1 will sink in water.

Specific gravity = density of substance

density of water
 Table 1: Densities of some common substances

Explain

1. A cylindrical tube, 2.5 m high and 4.0 cm in diameter is filled with gasoline with a density of 0.68
g/cm3. How many kilograms of kerosene does the tube hold?
Given: Unknown:
height = 2.5m mass in kg = ?
diameter = 4.0cm
density = 0. 68g/cm3
Solution:
Note: The formula for mass can be derived from the formula of density.

1. Compute for the volume of the container (cylinder)

V=πr2h 
V=3141.59 cm3.
2. Then the density of kerosene is ρ=0.68 g/cm3.
3. Using the density formula ρ=m/V then,
0.68=m/3141.59.
4. By isolating m then, m=2136.28g
5. m = 2136.28g x __1 kg__ = 2.1 kg
1000 g
2. A rectangular block measures 7.0 cm x 5.0 cm x 2.0 cm. It has a mass of 65 grams. What is the
specific gravity of the block of wood? Will it sink or float in water?

Given: Unknown:
L = 7.0 cm specific gravity?
W = 5.0 cm
H = 2.0 cm
m = 65 g
Solution:
1. Get the density of rectangular block
V = LWH
= (7.0 cm x 5.0 cm x 2.0 cm)
V = 70 cm3

ρ=m/V = 65 g/70 cm3 = 0.93 g/cm3

2. Get the specific gravity of the rectangular block

Specific gravity = density of substance
density of water

Specific gravity = 0.93 g/cm3 = 0.93

1 g/cm3

Since the specific gravity of the rectangular is less than 1, then it will float on water.

References:

Young, H & Freedman, R. 2012. University Physics with Modern Physics 13th Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.

Khan Academy. (n.d). Specific Gravity [Video]. Retrieved from:

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/fluids/density-and-pressure/v/specific-gravity

PBS Learning Media. (n.d). Density Lab [Video]. Retrieved from: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/arct15-sci-
densitylab/density-lab/

Specific gravity. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/specific-gravity-2699007

Topic 2: Pressure and Pascal’s Principle

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. Relate pressure to area and force
2. Relate pressure to fluid density and depth
3. Apply Pascal’s principle in analyzing fluids in various systems

Engage
Please watch these short video clips to elaborate your concepts about pressure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlLpKzPz84Q, https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Cvp6mLWbgaM

Explore

Pressure
Pressure is defined as the force divided by the area perpendicular to the force over which
the force is applied. Mathematically, pressure is expressed as
P=F/A
where P is the pressure in SI unit Pascal (Pa), F is a force in newton(N) and A is the area of
contact in square meters(m2). A given force can have a significantly different effect depending on
the area over which the force is exerted. The SI unit for pressure is the Pascal, where
1 Pa=1N/ m2.
Just like a solid surface, fluids (liquids or gases) can exert pressure. When a fluid is at rest,
it exerts a force perpendicular to any surface in contact with it, such as a container wall or a body
immersed in the fluid. This is the force that you feel pressing on your legs when you dangle them
in a swimming pool. While the fluid is at rest, the molecules that make up the fluid are in motion.
The force exerted by the fluid is due to these molecules colliding with their surroundings. The
pressure exerted by a fluid depends on the depth of the container, and not on the size and shape
of the container. Thus,
Pfluid=ρgh
where ρ is the density of the fluid causing the pressure, h is the depth or height of the fluid and g is
the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity.

Pascal’s Principle
Pressure can be increased by pressing the fluid through the application of additional or
external pressure. However, this is more feasible when a fluid is enclosed in a container. The
heart, for example, increases blood pressure by pushing directly on the blood in an enclosed
system (valves closed in a chamber). If you try to push on a fluid in an open system, such as a
river, the fluid flows away. A confined fluid cannot move away, and so the pressure is more easily
increased by an applied force. This external pressure applied to a closed container is transmitted
evenly throughout the entire volume of the fluid in all directions. This effect is known as the
Pascal’s Principle. Pascal’s Principle states that a change in pressure applied to an enclosed
fluid is transmitted undiminished to all portions of the fluid and to the walls of its container.

In application as in the hydraulic lift shown above, it can be deduced that the pressure
applied initially on the fluid or the input pressure (Pi) applied on the smaller piston is equal to the
pressure on the large piston, the output pressure (Po). Thus,
Pi= Po
applying that P=F/A then,
Fi/Ai=Fo/Ao

Explain

1. A curious seahorse is looking into the circular window of a submarine that is sitting at a
depth of 64.0m underneath the Mediterranean Sea. The density of the seawater is
 1025kg/m3. The window is circular with a radius of 5.50cm. The seahorse is impressed that
the window does not break from the pressure caused by the weight of the seawater. What
is the magnitude of the force exerted on the surface of the circular submarine window from
the weight of the water?
Given: Unknown:
h = 64.0m Force = ?
ρ = 1025kg/m3
r = 5.50 cm = 0.055 m

Solution:
P= F/A
F=PA
F= ρghA

F= (1025kg/m3)(9.8m/s2)(64.0m)( π × (0.055m)2)
F= 6109.49 N
2. How much force is needed to move a 10kg object on a square piston with a dimension of
1m by 1m if you will apply a force on the opposite side of the piston with a dimension of
0.2m by 0.2m?
Given: Unknown:
m = 10kg Fi = ?
Ai = 1m x 1m = 1m2
Ao = 0.2m x 0.2m = 0.04m2
  Solution:
Fi/Ai=Fo/Ao
Fo=mg=(10kg)(9.81m/s2)=98.1N
Fi/(0.2m*0.2m)=98.1N/(1m*1m)
Fi=3.92N

References:

Books:
Carreon, Sheryl Lyn M., et al. 2010. Physics IV. Quezon City, Philippines: Neo Asis Publishing Inc.
Giancoli, Douglas C. 2007. Physics. Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.
Don't Memorise. (2017, Aug 17). What is Pressure? |Physics|. [Video]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zlLpKzPz84Q

Don't Memorise. (2017, July 13). Do Liquids Exert Pressure? |Physics|. [Video]. Retrieved
from:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlLpKzPz84Q 

The  Physics Aviary. (n.d).  Pascal’s Principle Lab. Retrieved

from:  http://thephysicsaviary.com/Physics/Programs/Labs/PascalsPrincipleLab/ 

Young,H & Freedman, R. 2012. University Physics with Modern Physics 13th Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.

https://www.aplustopper.com/applications-of-pressure-in-daily-life/

Topic 3: Buoyancy and Archimedes’ Principle 

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Apply the concept of buoyancy and Archimedes’ principle 

2. Apply Bernoulli’s principle and continuity equation, whenever appropriate, to infer relations
involving pressure, elevation, speed, and flux

Engage
Please watch these short video clips to elaborate your concepts about buoyancy and
Archimedes Principle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RefIvqaYg8

Explore

Archimedes’ Principle

An object floats because the upward force exerted by the fluid on the object is greater than
the downward force exerted by the object on the fluid and sinks if the opposite happens. This is
because pressure in a fluid increases with depth.  Therefore, object floats in fluids because there is
a net upward force on an object. This upward force exerted by any liquid on any object partially or
wholly immersed in it is called buoyant force.

According to Archimedes Principle, the buoyant

force (FB) exerted on an object wholly or partially
immersed in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid
it displaces (wf). 

FB=wf

Explain
 A 0.550 kg garden gnome went snorkeling a little too low and found himself at the bottom
of a freshwater lake of depth 30.0m. The garden gnome is solid (with no holes) and takes up a
total volume of 1.40 x 10-3 m3. The density of fresh water in the lake is 1000 kg/ m3. What is the
buoyant force on the gnome?
Given: Unknown:
m = 0.550 kg Buoyant force, FB = ?
h = 30.0 m
V = 1.40 x 10-3 m3
ρ = 1000 kg/ m3

Solution:

FB=wf

FB=mfg

From, ρ=m/V, then,

FB= ρVfg

FB= (1000 kg/ m3)( 1.40 x 10-3 m3)(9.8m/ s2)

FB= 13.72 N

___________________________________________________________________________

Engage

To elaborate on the concepts about fluid flow and Bernoulli’s principle, please watch this short
video clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ3-Zm1wbIQ

Explore
Bernoulli’s Principle

Flow rate, Q, is defined as the volume of fluid passing by some location through an area
during a period of time. In symbols, this can be written as

Q=V/t

where V is the volume of the fluid and t is the elapsed time. The SI unit for the flow rate is m3/s, but
a number of other units for Q are in common use.

Flow rate or the volume of a fluid passing a given point also depends on two quantities. It is
identified that flow rate is related to the velocity of the flowing fluid and the area through which the
fluid is flowing by this equation:

Q=Av

where A is the cross-sectional area and v is the average velocity of the fuild. The relationship tells
us that flow rate is directly proportional to both the magnitude of the average velocity (hereafter
referred to as the speed) and the size of a river, pipe, or other conduits. The larger the conduit, the
greater its cross-sectional area.

  If the fluid flows on a tube continuously then passes thru a smaller tube, then an
incompressible fluid must be flowing along a pipe of decreasing radius. Because the fluid is
incompressible, the same amount of fluid must flow past any point in the tube at a given time to
ensure continuity of flow. In this case, because the cross-sectional area of the pipe decreases, the
velocity must necessarily increase. This logic can be extended to say that the flow rate must be the
same at all points along the pipe. This indicates that the flow rate on the larger tube must be equal
flow rate on the smaller tube indicating that the velocity of the fluid sincreaes as the fluid passes
thru the smaller tube. Thus,

Q1=Q2

A1v1= A2v2

Since liquids are essentially incompressible, the equation of continuity is valid for all liquids.
However, gases are different because gasses are compressible.

When fluid flows into a narrower channel, its speed increases. That means its kinetic energy also
increases. The increased kinetic energy comes from the net work done on the fluid to push it into
the channel and the work done on the fluid by the gravitational force if the fluid changes vertical
position. 

Wnet=(1/2)mv2−(1/2)mv02

There is a pressure difference when the channel narrows. This pressure difference results
in a net force on the fluid: recall that pressure times area equals force. The net work done
increases the fluid’s kinetic energy. As a result, the pressure will drop in a rapidly-moving
fluid, whether or not the fluid is confined to a tube.

This relationship between pressure and velocity in fluids is described quantitatively

by Bernoulli’s equation, named after its discoverer, the Swiss scientist Daniel Bernoulli (1700–
1782). Bernoulli’s equation states that for an incompressible, frictionless fluid, the following sum is
constant:

P + (1/2)ρv2 + ρgh = constant

where P is the absolute pressure, ρ is the fluid density, v is the velocity of the fluid, h is the height
above some reference point, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. If we follow a small volume of
fluid along its tube from a larger to smaller cross-sectional area, various quantities in the sum may
change, but the total remains constant. Thus,

P1+(1/2)ρv12+ρgh1 = P2+(1/2)ρv22+ρgh2

Bernoulli’s equation is a form of the conservation of energy principle. 

Explain

1.) Water from a garden hose fills a bucket in 10s. The volume of the bucket is 5.00 x 10-3m 3. Find
the speed of the water that leaves the hose through an unobstructed opening with a cross-
sectional area of 2.00 x 10-4m 2.
Given: Unknown:
t = 10 s Speed of water in the given area = ?
V = 5.00 x 10-3m 3
A = 2.00 x 10-4m 2
Solution:

V 5 ×10−3 m3
Q= = =0.5 ×10−3=5 ×10−4 m3 /s
t 10 s

Q 5 ×10−4 m3 / s
v= = =2.5 m/s
A 2 ×10−4 m2
2.) Water circulates throughout a house in a hot-water heating system. If the water is pumped at a
speed of 0.50m/s through a 4.0cm diameter pipe in the basement under a pressure of 3.0 x
105 N/m2, what will be the flow speed and pressure in a 2.6cm diameter pipe on the second floor
5.0m above?
Given: Unknown:
v1 = 0.50m/s v2 = ?
d1 = 4.0cm P2 = ?
P1 = 3.0 x105 N/m2
d2 = 2.6cm
h = 5.0m
Solution:
1. A1v1= A2v2
v2 = v1A1 = v1r12 = (0.50m/s) (0.020m)2 = 1.2m/s
A2 r22 (0.013m)2

2. P1 + (1/2)ρv12 + ρgh1 = P2 + (1/2)ρv22 + ρgh2

P2 = P1 + (1/2)ρv12 + ρgh1 - (1/2)ρv22 - ρgh2

P2 = P1 + ½ρ (v12 - v22) + ρg (h1-h2)

= 3.0 x105 N/m2 + ½ (1000kg/m3) [(0.50m/s)2 – (1.2m/s)2] + (1000kg/m3)(9.8m/s2)(0m-5m)

P2 = 2.5 x105 N/m2

References:

Books:
Carreon, Sheryl Lyn M., et al. 2010. Physics IV. Quezon City, Philippines: Neo Asis Publishing Inc.
Giancoli, Douglas C. 2007. Physics. Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.

Amrita.  (2014,  Sept 03).  Archimedes Principle  [Video]. Retrieved from:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=2RefIvqaYg8 
 
Creative Learning. (2015, Oct 24). Bernoulli’s Principle  [Video]. Retrieved from: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ3-Zm1wbIQ 
 
oPhysics.  (n.d.). Fluid Dynamics and the Bernoulli Equation Simulation.  Retrieved from:  https://ophysics.com/fl2.html 
 
Young,H & Freedman, R. 2012.  University Physics with Modern Physics 13th  Edition.  Pearson Education, Inc. 

Caintic, Helen. 2017. General Physics 1 for Senior High School. C & E Publishing, Inc

Enchanted Learning. (n.d). https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Liver.shtml