310105f Fluid Principles 2025 TF

Atom

The smallest components of all substances.

Molecule

A group made up of two or more atoms, which can be the same or different.

Element

A pure substance consisting of only one type of atom with the same number of protons in their nuclei.

Molecular Attraction

Intermolecular attraction between molecules of the same type (cohesion) and different types (adhesion).

Capillary Action

The ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces, influenced by adhesive forces.

Density

A physical property of matter defined as mass per unit volume.

Relative Density (RD)

The density of a liquid compared to the density of water.

Buoyancy

The upward force exerted by a fluid on an object submerged in it.

Pascal’s Principle

States that external pressure applied to a fluid increases the pressure throughout the fluid equally.

Bernoulli’s Equation

An equation that expresses the principle of conservation of energy in fluid dynamics, relating pressure, kinetic energy, and potential energy.

Turbulent Flow

A type of flow that is highly irregular, characterized by eddies and swirls.

Laminar Flow

An orderly flow where fluid moves in parallel layers with minimal disruption between them.

Continuity Equation

A principle that states that the mass flow rate must remain constant from one cross-section of a pipe to another.

Compressibility

The measure of how much a substance can be compressed under pressure.

Thermal Expansion

The tendency of matter to change in volume in response to a change in temperature.

Specific Volume

The volume occupied by a unit mass of a substance, typically expressed in m³/kg.