Mechanical properties of fluids

Among three states of matter, i.e., solid, liquid and gas, a solid nearly maintains its fixed shape and volume even if a large force is applied to it. Liquids and gases do not have their own shape and they take the shape of the containing vessel. Due to this, liquids and gases flow under the action of external force. A fluid means a substance that can flow. Therefore, liquids and gases, collectively, are called fluids. A fluid either has no rigidity or its rigidity is very low. In our daily life, we often experience the pressure exerted by a fluid at rest and in motion. Viscosity and surface tension play an important role in nature. We will try to understand such properties in this chapter. 

Topics we cover:

• Fluid

• Surface tension

• Fluids in motion

• Stokes' law

• Equation of continuity

• Bernoulli's equation

• Quiz