4. Fluids
Fluids are substances that can flow and exert pressure, which can be quantified through the concept of pressure defined as force per unit area. The chapter discusses various aspects of pressure in fluids, including the factors affecting liquid pressure and applications of fluid mechanics principles like Pascal's Law. Understanding the behavior of fluids helps explain numerous practical applications ranging from everyday instruments to large structures.
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What we have learnt
- Fluids exert pressure in all directions and this pressure increases with depth.
- Pressure is defined as force per unit area, with its SI unit being Pascal (Pa).
- Pascal's Law states that pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally in all directions.
Key Concepts
- -- Fluids
- Substances that can flow, including liquids and gases.
- -- Pressure
- The force applied per unit area, calculated as Pressure (P) = Force (F) / Area (A).
- -- Liquid Pressure
- The pressure exerted by a liquid at a given depth, which increases with depth and is affected by the density of the liquid.
- -- Thrust
- The force applied perpendicularly to a surface, related to pressure.
- -- Atmospheric Pressure
- The pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere above a surface, measured at approximately 1.013 × 10^5 Pa at sea level.
- -- Pascal's Law
- A principle stating that pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally in all directions.
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