Fluid Mechanics

Vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from fluid mechanics and its application to human movement.

Fluid Mechanics

The study of fluids (liquids and gases) and the forces that affect their motion.

Buoyancy

The vertical supporting force of a fluid that determines whether an object will float or sink.

Archimedes Principle

The principle stating that the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by an object.

Drag

The fluid force resisting motion between an object and a fluid, acting in the opposite direction of an object's motion.

Surface Drag

A type of drag that results from the frictional force between fluid molecules and the surface of an object.

Pressure Drag

The resistance force created by pressure differentials when fluid flows around a submerged object.

Wave Drag

A drag force resulting from disturbances at the surface of a fluid, particularly relevant in swimming.

Lift

A fluid force acting at right angles to the flow of the fluid, often used for propulsion.

Bernoulli’s Principle

The principle that states pressure in a fluid is inversely proportional to its velocity.

The Magnus Effect

The phenomenon where lift forces are created by the spin imparted to spherical balls, resulting in curved trajectories.

Principle of Spin

The concept that fluid forces can be modified by imparting spin to a projectile for advantageous movement.

Hydrotherapy

Therapeutic exercise in water utilizing buoyant force for rehabilitation.

Boundary Layer

The region of fluid layers near a surface that move more slowly due to viscous forces.

Lift and Drag Relationship

The complexity of fluid flow over an object makes it difficult to establish which force is more influential in performance.

Backspin

A type of spin that can increase the distance a golf ball travels and improves its interaction with the hoop in basketball.