Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics Flashcards

Pascal's Law states that pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted:

Answer: Equally in all directions throughout the fluid

Pascal's Law states that pressure applied to a confined, incompressible fluid is transmitted equally and undiminished in all directions throughout the fluid.

According to Bernoulli's principle, as the velocity of a fluid increases, its pressure:

Answer: Decreases

Bernoulli's principle states that in a flowing fluid, an increase in velocity corresponds to a decrease in static pressure, reflecting conservation of energy.

The gauge pressure at the bottom of a column of water 10 meters deep (density = 1000 kg/m³, g = 9.8 m/s²) is approximately:

Answer: 98,000 Pa

Gauge pressure P = ρgh = 1000 × 9.8 × 10 = 98,000 Pa; gauge pressure measures pressure above atmospheric.

Archimedes' principle states that the buoyant force on a submerged object equals:

Answer: The weight of the fluid displaced by the object

Archimedes' principle states that the buoyant force equals the weight of the fluid displaced by the object, which is why objects float when this force equals their own weight.

The continuity equation for incompressible fluid flow states that:

Answer: The product of cross-sectional area and flow velocity is constant

The continuity equation (A₁V₁ = A₂V₂) requires that the volume flow rate is conserved, so a smaller cross-section forces the fluid to move faster.

Viscosity in a fluid is a measure of its:

Answer: Resistance to flow or internal friction

Viscosity quantifies a fluid's resistance to deformation or flow; high-viscosity fluids like honey resist shear forces more than low-viscosity fluids like water.

In a hydraulic lift system, a small piston with area 0.01 m² has a force of 100 N applied. What force is exerted by a large piston with area 0.5 m²?

Answer: 5,000 N

By Pascal's Law, pressure is equal on both pistons: P = F₁/A₁ = 100/0.01 = 10,000 Pa; F₂ = P × A₂ = 10,000 × 0.5 = 5,000 N.