06/01/2023, 16:26 Difference Between Compressible and Incompressible Fluids | Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Compare the
Difference
Difference Between Between Compressible and Incompressible Fluids
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December Terms
8, 2011 Posted by Madhu (https://www.differencebetween.com/author/madhus/)

The key difference between compressible and incompressible fluids is that the compressible fluids
occur in reality whereas the incompressible fluids is a concept developed for ease of calculations.

Fluids are either gases or liquids that take the shape of the container. In fluid dynamics
(https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-fluid-dynamics-and-vs-fluid-mechanics/), the
compressibility of a fluid is a very important factor. In nature, all the fluids are compressible, but we define
incompressible fluids for our convenience of study. The concepts of compressible and incompressible fluids
play a major role in fields such as fluid dynamics, fluid statics, aviation and many other fields. Therefore, it
is vital to have a proper understanding of the concepts of compressibility of fluids in order to understand
such fields.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference

2. What are Compressible Fluids
3. What are Incompressible Fluids
4. Side by Side Comparison – Compressible vs Incompressible Fluids in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What are Compressible Fluids?

Every fluid we encounter in our daily lives is compressible. To understand what compressible fluids are, one
must first understand what compressibility is. The compressibility of a fluid is the reduction of the volume of
the fluid due to external pressures acting on it. Conversely, a compressible fluid will reduce its volume in the
presence of external pressure. Therefore, we can take the quantitative measurement of the compressibility
as the relative volume change of the liquid in response for a pressure change.

The symbol for compressibility is β or κ. Hence, we can define the compressibility mathematically as

κ =(-1/v) ∂V/∂p,

where V is the volume and p is the pressure.

In reality, every gas is highly compressible, but liquids are not highly compressible. Therefore, we can
define the compressibility in two forms; adiabatic and isothermal

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(https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-adiabatic-and-vs-isothermal/) compressibility.

Figure 01: LPG Cylinders contain Compressed Gases

The adiabatic compressibility describes the compressibility of the system when the temperature of the
system is constant. We can denote it by βV. Whereas, the isothermal compressibility refers to the
compressibility measured under no energy transfer between the system and the surroundings. We can
denote it by βS . Since an adiabatic process is also isentropic
(https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-adiabatic-and-vs-isentropic-processes/), this
process is a constant entropy process.

What are Incompressible Fluids?

Incompressible fluids are a hypothetical type of fluids, which the scientists introduced for the convenience of
calculations. An incompressible fluid is a fluid that does not change the volume of the fluid due to external
pressure Most of the basic calculations that we do in fluid dynamics depend on the assumption that the

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06/01/2023, 16:26 Difference Between Compressible and Incompressible Fluids | Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

pressure. Most of the basic calculations that we do in fluid dynamics depend on the assumption that the
fluid is incompressible.

The approximation of incompressibility is acceptable for most of the liquids as their compressibility is very
low. However, the compressibility of gases is high, so we cannot approximate gases as incompressible
fluids. The compressibility of an incompressible fluid is always zero.

What is the Difference Between Compressible and Incompressible Fluids?

Compressible fluids occur in reality. In fact, all of the fluids found in nature are
compressible. Incompressible fluids are a concept that the scientists developed for the ease of calculations.
Hence, this is the key difference between compressible and incompressible fluids. Accordingly, a significant
difference between compressible and incompressible fluids is that the volume of compressible fluids
decreases when we apply external pressure, but the volume of incompressible liquids remain constant.
Besides, the fluid dynamic calculations for the incompressible fluids are very easy when compared to the
calculations involving compressible fluids.

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06/01/2023, 16:26 Difference Between Compressible and Incompressible Fluids | Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Summary – Compressible vs Incompressible Fluids

A fluid is either a gas or a liquid. We can categorize fluids into two broad groups as compressible and
incompressible fluids depending on their ability to undergo compression. However, there are no such fluids
which do not undergo compression. Thus, the concept of incompressible fluids is hypothetical. The key
difference between compressible and incompressible fluids is that the compressible fluids occur in reality
whereas the incompressible fluids is a concept developed for ease of calculations.

Reference:

1. “Fluid.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Sept. 2018. Available here 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid)
2. Celli , Vittorio. Compressible Fluids, 11 Oct. 1997. Available here  
(http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/311/notes/compflu2/node1.html)

Image Courtesy:

1.”LPG cylinders” (CC BY 2.5) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5) via Commons Wikimedia  

(https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=461429)

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Difference Difference Difference Difference

Between Adiabatic Between Reaction Between Closed Between
and Isentropic Rate and Rate System and Open Anisotropy and
Processes Constant System Isotropy
(https://www.differe (https://www.differe (https://www.differe (https://www.differe
ncebetween.com/di ncebetween.com/di ncebetween.com/di ncebetween.com/di
fference-between- fference-between- fference-between- fference-between-
adiabatic-and-vs- reaction-rate-and- closed-system- anisotropy-and-vs-
isentropic- vs-rate-constant/) and-vs-open- isotropy/)
processes/) system/)

Difference
Between
Chemical
Equilibrium and
Dynamic
Equilibrium
(https://www.differe
ncebetween.com/di
fference-between-
chemical-
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About the Author: Madhu

Madhu is a graduate in Biological Sciences with BSc (Honours) Degree and currently persuing a
Masters Degree in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. With a mind rooted firmly to basic
principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry she is keenly

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06/01/2023, 16:26 Difference Between Compressible and Incompressible Fluids | Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly
interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

Comments

Anonymous says
December 8, 2011 at 11:31 am (https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-
between-compressible-and-vs-incompressible-fluids/#comment-1042)

Thank you for sharing this information.

It will really helpful to solve my confusion

Reply

Vivian Ifeoma Ekwegh says

April 14, 2014 at 3:14 am (https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-
between-compressible-and-vs-incompressible-fluids/#comment-2000)

Thanks for sharing this…

Reply

kezang says
September 25, 2014 at 7:11 am (https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-
between-compressible-and-vs-incompressible-fluids/#comment-2335)

thanks for sharing this notes

Reply

Mubarak Ali says

July 7, 2017 at 4:41 am (https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-
b t ibl d i ibl fl id /# t 5645)

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06/01/2023, 16:26 Difference Between Compressible and Incompressible Fluids | Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

between-compressible-and-vs-incompressible-fluids/#comment-5645)

Thanks for sharing this topic

Reply

ace sky says

November 20, 2021 at 12:42 pm (https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-
between-compressible-and-vs-incompressible-fluids/#comment-114642)

Sorry, i have a question. What approximation is made for slightly compressible fluids in
well testing analysis?

Reply

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