FACTOID # 112: Don't start a company in Australia. More than 20% of the tax collected in Australia is corporate income tax.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Fluid statics

Fluid statics (also called hydrostatics) is the science of fluids at rest, and is a sub-field within fluid mechanics. The term usually refers to the mathematical treatment of the subject. It embraces the study of the conditions under which fluids are at rest in stable equilibrium. The use of fluid to do work is called hydraulics, and the science of fluids in motion is fluid dynamics. // What is science? There are various understandings of the word science. According to empiricism, scientific theories are objective, empirically testable, and predictive — they predict empirical results that can be checked and possibly contradicted. ... A subset of the phases of matter, fluids include liquids, gases, plasmas and, to some extent, plastic solids. ... Fluid mechanics is the subdiscipline of continuum mechanics that studies fluids, that is, liquids and gases. ... The word stability has a number of technical meanings, all related to the common meaning of the word. ... Equilibrium or balance is any of a number of related phenomena in the natural and social sciences. ... Hydraulics is a branch of science and engineering concerned with the mechanical properties of liquids. ... // What is science? There are various understandings of the word science. According to empiricism, scientific theories are objective, empirically testable, and predictive — they predict empirical results that can be checked and possibly contradicted. ... Fluid dynamics is the subdiscipline of fluid mechanics that studies fluids in motion. ...

Contents


Static pressure in fluids

Due to an inability to resist deformation, fluids exert pressure normal to any contacting surface. In addition, when the fluid is at rest (static) that pressure is isotropic, i.e. it acts with equal magnitude in all directions. This characteristic allows fluids to transmit force through the length of pipes or tubes, i.e., a force applied to a fluid in a pipe is transmitted, via the fluid, to the other end of the pipe. If the force is unequal, the fluid will move in the direction of the resulting force. A subset of the phases of matter, fluids include liquids, gases, plasmas and, to some extent, plastic solids. ... Pressure (symbol: p) quantifies the intensity of a force acting on a surface in a direction perpendicular to that surface. ... The term normal has many meanings, as listed below. ... Pressure (symbol: p) quantifies the intensity of a force acting on a surface in a direction perpendicular to that surface. ...


This concept was first formulated, in a slightly extended form, by the French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal in 1647, and would be later known as Pascal's Law. This law has many important applications in hydraulics. Galileo Galilei, also was a major father of hydrostatics. A mathematician is a person whose area of study and research is mathematics. ... A philosopher is a person devoted to studying and producing results in philosophy. ... Blaise Pascal (June 19, 1623–August 19, 1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, and religious philosopher. ... // Events March 14 - Thirty Years War: Bavaria, Cologne, France and Sweden sign the Truce of Ulm. ... Pascals Law gives the hydrostatic pressure of a fluid at mechanical equilibrium (see also hydrostatics), on which only gravity forces are taken into account. ... Application has the following meanings: In general, an application is using something abstract for a more concrete use. ... Hydraulics is a branch of science and engineering concerned with the mechanical properties of liquids. ... Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei (Pisa, February 15, 1564 – Arcetri, January 8, 1642), was an Italian physicist, astronomer, and philosopher who is closely associated with the scientific revolution. ...


Hydrostatic pressure

Considering a small cube of water at rest below a free surface, the weight of the water above must be balanced by a pressure in this small cube. For an infinitely small cube, this weight or equivalent pressure can be expressed as Pressure (symbol: p) quantifies the intensity of a force acting on a surface in a direction perpendicular to that surface. ...

where, using SI units, The International System of Units (abbreviated SI from the French language name Système International dUnités) is the most widely used system of units. ...


P is the hydrostatic pressure (in pascals); The pascal (symbol Pa) is the SI unit of pressure. ...


ρ is the water density (in kilograms per cubic meter); Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per unit of volume. ...


g is gravitational acceleration (in meters per second squared); Gravity is the force of attraction between massive particles. ...


h is the height of fluid above (in meters).


Atmospheric pressure

The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution predicts that, for a gas of constant temperature, T, its density, ρ, will vary with height, h, as: The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is a probability distribution with applications in physics and chemistry. ...

ρ(h) = ρ(0)e gh / kT,

- where k is Boltzmann's constant and g is the acceleration due to gravity. The Boltzmann constant (k or kB) is the physical constant relating temperature to energy. ... g (also gee, g-force or g-load) is a non-SI unit of acceleration defined as exactly 9. ...


Buoyancy

A solid body immersed in a fluid will have an upward buoyant force acting on it equal to the weight of displaced fluid. This is due to the hydrostatic pressure in the fluid. In jewelry, a solid gold piece is the alternative to gold-filled or gold-plated jewelry. ...


In the case of a container ship, for instance, its weight force is balanced by a buoyant force from the displaced water, allowing it to float. If more cargo is loaded onto the ship, it would sit lower in the water - displacing more water and thus receive a higher buoyant force to balance the increased weight force. Container ship Rita being loaded at Copenhagen; note crew standing on deck, and stacks of containers on shore. ...


Discovery of the principle of buoyancy is attributed to Archimedes. In physics, buoyancy is an upward force on an object immersed in a fluid (i. ... Archimedes of Syracuse. ...


Stability

A floating object is stable if it tends to restore itself to an equilibrium position after a small displacement. For example, floating objects will generally have vertical stability, as if the object is pushed down slightly, this will create a greater buoyant force, which, unbalanced against the weight force will push the object back up.


Rotational stability is of great importance to floating vessels. Given a small angular displacement, the vessel may return to its original position (stable), move away from its original position (unstable), or remain where it is (neutral).


Rotational stability depends on the relative lines of action of forces on an object. The upward buoyant force on an object acts through the centre of buoyancy, being the centroid of the displaced volume of fluid. The weight force on the object acts through its centre of gravity. An object will be stable if an angular displacement moves the line of action of these forces to set up a 'righting moment'. The metacentric height (GM) is a characteristic of a ship which helps determines its stability in the water. ... In physics, the center of gravity (CoG) of an object is the average location of its weight. ... In physics, the moment of force (often just moment, though there are other quantities of that name such as moment of inertia) is a quantity that represents the magnitude of force applied to a rotational system at a distance from the axis of rotation. ...


Liquids-fluids with free surfaces

Liquids can have free surfaces at which they interface with gases, or with a vacuum. In general, the lack of the ability to sustain a shear stress entails that free surfaces rapidly adjust towards an equilibrium. However, on small length scales, there is an important balancing force from surface tension. For other uses, see vacuum cleaner and Vacuum (musical group). ... In physics, surface tension is an effect within the surface layer of a liquid that causes the layer to behave as an elastic sheet. ...


Surface tension effects

Capillary action

When liquids are constrained in vessels whose dimensions are small, compared to the relevant length scales, surface tension effects become important leading to the formation of a meniscus through capillary action. Meniscus (plural: menisci) has different meanings: // Meniscus in liquids A: Read the bottom of a concave meniscus. ... Capillary action or capillarity is the ability of a narrow tube to draw a liquid upwards against the force of gravity. ...


Drops

Without surface tension, drops would not be able to form. The dimensions and stability of drops are determined by surface tension. A drop may be: a drop, unit of measure of volume a drop (or droplet) of liquid, such as raindrops causing a rainbow, or forming clouds or fog a drop or dropout in telecommunications, such as in losing a signal, or as in a wire dropped-down from a ceiling...


See also


  Results from FactBites:
 
Fluid statics - Definition, explanation (681 words)
Fluids are characterised by their inability to sustain a shear stress in equilibrium.
A fluid, then, can only exert stress normal to any contact surface, and the accompanying pressure in the fluid is the same in all directions for a static fluid.
Density, ρ, of a fluid is, in general, a function of temperature and, in the case of compressible fluids, of pressure.
Fluid Mechanics - MSN Encarta (1400 words)
Fluid Mechanics, physical science dealing with the action of fluids at rest or in motion, and with engineering applications and devices using fluids.
Fluid mechanics can be subdivided into two major areas: fluid statics, or hydrostatics, which deals with fluids at rest, and fluid dynamics, concerned with fluids in motion.
The second important principle of fluid statics was discovered by the Greek mathematician and philosopher Archimedes.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.