What Is Fluid?

Fluid flows are part of fluid mechanics & are related to fluid dynamics. It involves the motion of a fluid subject to unbalanced forces. These motions continue as long as an unbalanced force is applied.

For example, if you are pourings water from mugs, the water velocity is very high above the lip, moderately high near the lip, and very low at the bottom of the mug.

The unbalanced force is gravity, & the flow continues as long as the water is available and the mug is tilted. Liquids generally include liquids, gases, and plasma. To some extent, plastic solids are also considered to be liquids. Before discussing liquids, let us first discuss the phases of matter.

Matter around us exists in three phases except for plasma. Plasma is a very hot substance – so hot that electrons are pulled away from the atoms making up the ionized gas. There are three states of matter

1. Solid
2. Liquid
3. Gas

From the above three phases, liquid and gas are jointly known as liquids. The main difference between liquids and solids lies in their ability to resist shear stresses. Let us understand liquids with their definitions.

When a constant shear force is applied, a solid eventually stop deforming, whereas a fluid never stops deforming and reaches a constant rate of strain.

Types of Fluids:

Based on the shear stress & velocity gradient relationship, liquids can be broadly classified into the following five types:

#1. Ideal Fluid

An ideal fluid is a fluid that is incompressible in nature and has no viscosity. In practice, no liquid is an ideal liquid because all liquids have some viscosity. Hence it is also called imaginary fluid. The ideal fluid is incompressible and has no viscosity. It is an imaginary fluid and does not really exist.

#2. Real Fluid

Real Fluids are liquids that have some viscosity and are compressible in nature. In fact, all liquids are real liquids.

#3. Newtonian Fluid

Newtonian fluids are liquids that obey Newton’s law of viscosity. In other words, a reals fluid whose shear stress is proportional to the rate of shear deformation is called a Newtonian fluid. For a Newtonian fluid, viscosity depends entirely on the temperature and pressure of the liquid.

Examples: Water, Air, Emulsion, Hydrogen Main Features: Newton’s Liquids have no elastic properties. They are incompressible, isotropic, and unreactive. Viscosity is temperature-dependent; viscosity further depends on the different pressures at which it is found.

At a certain temperature, their viscosity remains constant with an increase in temperatures of the fluid, the viscosity decreases. The viscosity of this type of liquid is inversely proportional to the increase in its temperature.

Newtonian fluid was named after Sir Isaac Newton, who defined it as a viscous flow. They obey Newton’s law of viscosity. A real fluid that obeys Newton’s law of viscosity is known as a Newtonian fluid.

Note: According to Newton’s law of viscosity, the shear stress is directly proportional to the strain rate.

#4. Non-Newtonian Fluids

Non-Newtonian fluid is liquid that does not obey Newton’s law of viscosity. In other words, a reals fluid in which the shear stress is not directly proportional to the rate of shear deformation is known as a non-Newtonian fluid. A real fluid that does not obey Newton’s law of viscosity is known as a non-Newtonian fluid.

#5. Ideal Plastic Fluid

Fluids in which the shear stress is greater than the yield value and the shear stress is directly proportional to the rate of shear deformation are known as ideal plastic fluid. Properties of liquids There are some basic properties associated with liquids that help us understand them better.

Viscosity:-

It is the ratio of the applied shear stress to the shear strain rate achieved in liquids. Viscosity provides resistance to the movement of fluid layers.

Pressure:-

It is a term used in liquids that is analogous to the term stress used in solids. The ratio of both the applied force and the area of ​​the surface on which the force is applied.

Specific Gravity:-

The specific gravity of fluids is defined as the ratio of the density of a particular fluid to the density of a standard fluid, usually water.

Examples of fluids:

1. Water
2. Air
3. Blood
4. Mercury
5. Honey
6. Gasoline
7. Any other gas or liquid

Incompressible Fluid:

When the density of the liquid does not change by the use of external force, it is known as an incompressible fluid.

Compressible Fluid:

When the density of a liquid changes by the use of external force, it is called compressible fluid. The table below shows the density and viscosity of different types of liquids.

Type of Fluid Flow:

Fluid flows have all kinds of aspects – stationary or unstable, compressive or incompressible, viscous or non-viscous, and rotational or erratic, to name a few. Some of these characteristics reflects the property of the fluid themselves, & others focus on how the fluid is moving.

#1. Steady or Unsteady Flow

The flow of a fluid may be stationary or unstable depending on the velocity of the fluid:

1. Constant: In a steady fluid flow, the velocity of the fluid remains constant at any point.
2. Unsteady: When the flow is unstable, the velocity of the fluid can vary between any two points.

#2. Viscous or Non-Viscous Flow

The fluid flow can be vicious or non-viscous. Viscosity is the measure of the thickness of a fluid, & very viscous liquids such as motor oil or shampoo are called viscous fluids.

#3. Fluid Flow Equation

Mass flow rates are the rate of movement of a mass of fluid through a unit area. In simple words, it is the speed of mass per unit of time. The formula for the mass flow rate is given as follows:

Massflowrate=ρAV

From the equations, we can see that the rate of mass flow depends on the density, velocity, and area of ​​the cross-section of the fluid.

#4. Solved Example

A fluid moves through tubes of 15 m/s, and the transverse area of ​​the tube is 0.4 m2. If the densities of liquids are = 1.5 g/m, then what is the amount of mass flowing through the tube?

To calculate the total mass of the fluid flowing through the tube, we use.

Massflowrate=ρAV

Substituting the values in the above equations, we get.

Massflowrate=1.5×15×0.4=9g/s

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) that could be included in your article on fluid mechanics:

What is fluid mechanics?

Fluid mechanics is the branch of physics that deals with the behavior of fluids (liquids, gases, and plasmas) at rest and in motion, including their physical properties and how they interact with external forces.

What are the main types of fluids?

Fluids are broadly classified into liquids and gases. Plasma is also considered a fluid in certain contexts due to its ionized state.

What is viscosity?

Viscosity is the measure of a fluid’s resistance to deformation or flow. It determines how easily a fluid can flow and is affected by factors such as temperature and pressure.

What is an ideal fluid?

An ideal fluid is a theoretical concept that assumes a fluid is incompressible (constant density) and has no viscosity. In reality, all fluids have some viscosity, making ideal fluids purely hypothetical.

What is a Newtonian fluid?

A Newtonian fluid is a real fluid that obeys Newton’s law of viscosity, meaning its viscosity remains constant regardless of the shear rate applied.

What are non-Newtonian fluids?

Non-Newtonian fluids do not follow Newton’s law of viscosity. Their viscosity can change based on factors like shear rate, time, or stress applied.

What is the difference between incompressible and compressible fluids?

Incompressible fluids have constant density and do not significantly change volume under applied pressure. Compressible fluids, like gases, can change density and volume with pressure variations.

What are the different types of fluid flow?

Fluid flow can be categorized as steady or unsteady, viscous or non-viscous, compressible or incompressible, laminar or turbulent, among other characteristics depending on the fluid’s behavior and external conditions.

How is fluid flow characterized mathematically?

Fluid flow is described using equations such as Bernoulli’s equation, Navier-Stokes equations, and mass flow rate equations, which relate parameters like pressure, velocity, density, and viscosity.

What are some practical applications of fluid mechanics?

Fluid mechanics is crucial in various fields, including engineering (aeronautical, mechanical, civil), environmental science, biology (blood flow), and industrial processes (chemical engineering, manufacturing).