Department of Fisheries Studies – SINU

Unit: FIS419/607 Fluid Mechanics & methods

Lecture 1

1. Introduction to the course

2. Pressure Distribution in a fluid

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 Learning outcome

• At the end of this session, students should be able

to:
1. Define fluid mechanics and its counter categories
2. Recognize and analyze the various areas of where fluid
mechanics is applied
3. Explain the pressure force of equilibrium in a fluid
element
4. Describe the equilibrium of a fluid element
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 1. Introduction – What is Fluid
Mechanics?
• One of the branch of science, particularly Physics. It
deals with the flow of fluids that are in motion or at rest.
• Fluids in motion – fluid dynamics
• Fluids at rest – fluid statics
• In fluid mechanics, both gas and liquids are classified as
fluids
• Categories – hydrodynamics, hydraulics, gas, dynamics,
aerodynamics etc.
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 Cont’d ……
• Hydrodynamics
• study of motion of fluids which can be similar to as
incompressible. [liquid – particularly water and gas at low
speediness]
• Hydraulics
• a subcategory of hydrodynamics that deals with liquids flows in
pipes and open channels
• Gas dynamics
• deals with the flow of fluids that undergo significant density
changes such as the flow of gases through nozzles at high speed
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 Cont’d….

• Aerodynamics
• Deals with the flow of gases (especially air) over bodies
such as aircraft, rockets, and automobiles at high or low
speeds.
• Meteorology, oceanography, and hydrology:
• Deal with naturally occurring flows.

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 1.1 – What is a Fluid?

• A substance (has no fixed shapes and it reacts

easily to external pressures) in the liquid or gas.
Application Areas of Fluid Mechanics
• Natural flow & weather, aircrafts/spacecraft,
boats, human body, piping, plumbing systems,
wind turbines etc.

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 1.2 Units of measurement
• Four important basic units of measurement variables;
1. Length [meter, m]
2. Mass [ kilogram, grams, kg & g]
3. Time [ second, s]
4. Temperature [kelvin (273.15), k]
• Also other important units are;
a) Force [Newton, N] or kg.m.𝐬𝟐
b) Pressure [pascal, Pa] or 𝐍. 𝐦−𝟐

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 1. Pressure distribution in a fluid

• Pressure is defined as a normal force exerted by a fluid

per unit area.
• Pressure is accounted when dealing with gas and
Liquid, pressure in solids is called normal Pressure and
pressure in tires are called gauge pressure, p-pa.
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞
• Pressure; pressure = 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚
• P= 𝐍𝐦−𝟐 𝐏𝐚 , F = N, A= 𝐦𝟐
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 1. Pressure distribution in a fluid

Example
• Since pressure is defined as force per unit area, it
has the unit of newtons per square meter
(N/m²), which is called a pascal (Pa). That is,
1 Pa = 1 N/m²

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 1. Pressure distribution in a fluid

• The pressure unit pascal is too small for pressures

encountered in practice. Therefore its multiples are
kilopascal ( 1kPa = 10³ Pa) and megapascal (1 MPa
= 𝟏𝟎𝟔 Pa) are commonly used
• Other pressure units commonly used in practice,
are bar and standard atmosphere.
• 1 bar = 𝟏𝟎𝟓 Pa = 0.1 MPa = kPa
• 1 atm = 101,325 Pa = 101.325 kPa = 1.01325 bars
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 1. Pressure distribution in a fluid

• The pressure in a fluid acts equally

in all directions
• The pressure in a static liquid
increases linearly with depth.
• 𝜟𝒑 = 𝒑𝒈 𝜟 𝒉 (pressure increase
(Pa) depth increases (m)

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 1. Pressure distribution in a fluid

1.1.1 Pressure Force of a Fluid Element

• Pressure causes a net force on a fluid element
when it varies spatially.

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 1. Pressure distribution in a fluid

• In terms of the net force per unit volume, the equation

is rewritten as,
𝐟𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 = −𝜵𝒑
𝜶 𝜶 𝜶
Where, 𝜵 = 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓 = 𝒊 +𝒋 +𝒌
𝜶𝒙 𝜶𝒚 𝜶𝒛

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 1. Pressure distribution in a fluid

1.1.2 Equilibrium of a Fluid Element

• Pressure gradient is a surface force that acts on the
sides of the element. There may also be a body
force, due to electromagnetic or gravitational
potentials, acting on the entire mass of the element.
Here we consider only the gravity force, or weight
of the element:
• 𝐟𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯 = 𝝆𝒈
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