KINEMATICS AND FLOW CLASSIFICATIONS

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from kinematics, fluid mechanics, and flow classifications.

Kinematics

The study of the geometry of fluid flow, describing the position, velocity, and acceleration of a system of fluid particles.

Fluid mechanics

The study of the behavior of fluids that are either at rest or in motion.

Hydrostatics

The study of the forces acting on a fluid at rest.

Fluid dynamics

The study of the forces that cause acceleration of a fluid.

Fluid kinematics

The study of the geometry of fluid motion; concerns a specified quantity of fluid enclosed within a region of space.

Laminar flow

Flow in which fluid particles follow straight-line paths, moving in smooth, thin layers.

Turbulent flow

Flow in which fluid particles follow erratic paths that change direction in space and time.

Transitional flow

A state in which regions of laminar and turbulent flow coexist.

Three-dimensional flow

Flow whose velocity depends on all three spatial coordinates (x, y, z).

Two-dimensional flow

Flow whose velocity depends on two spatial coordinates (typically x and y).

One-dimensional flow

Flow whose velocity is a function of a single spatial variable.

Non-dimensional flow

Velocity is constant.