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Fluid statics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Continuum mechanics
Fluid statics (also called hydrostatics) is the science
of fluids at rest, and is a sub-field within fluid
mechanics. The term usually refers to the mathematical
treatment of the subject. It embraces the study of the
conditions under which fluids are at rest in stable
equilibrium. The use of fluid to do work is called
hydraulics, and the science of fluids in motion is fluid
dynamics.
Laws
Conservation of mass
Conservation of momentum
Contents Conservation of energy
Entropy Inequality
■ 1 Pressure in fluids at rest
■ 1.1 Hydrostatic pressure Solid mechanics
■ 1.2 Atmospheric pressure Solids · Stress · Deformation · Finite strain
■ 1.3 Buoyancy theory · Infinitesimal strain theory · Elasticity ·
■ 2 Liquids-fluids with free surfaces Linear elasticity · Plasticity · Viscoelasticity ·
■ 2.1 Capillary action Hooke's law · Rheology
■ 2.2 Drops
Fluid mechanics
Fluids · Fluid statics
Pressure in fluids at rest Fluid dynamics · Viscosity · Newtonian fluids
Non-Newtonian fluids
Due to the fundamental nature of fluids, a fluid cannot Surface tension
remain at rest under the presence of a shear stress. Scientists
However, fluids can exert pressure normal to any
Newton · Stokes · Navier · Cauchy· Hooke ·
contacting surface. If a point in the fluid is thought of
as an infinitesimally small cube, then it follows from Bernoulli
the principles of equilibrium that the pressure on every
side of this unit of fluid must be equal. If this were not
the case, the fluid would move in the direction of the resulting force. Thus, the pressure on a fluid at rest
is isotropic, i.e. it acts with equal magnitude in all directions. This characteristic allows fluids to transmit
force through the length of pipes or tubes, i.e., a force applied to a fluid in a pipe is transmitted, via the
fluid, to the other end of the pipe.

This concept was first formulated, in a slightly extended form, by the French mathematician and
philosopher Blaise Pascal in 1647 and would later be known as Pascal's law. This law has many
important applications in hydraulics.

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Hydrostatic pressure
In equilibrium, the properties of a fluid can be determined
from a control volume analysis of an infinitesimally small
cube of water. From the knowledge that the stress on all
sides of this cube must be normal and equal in magnitude,
the pressure gradient can be found to be linearly increasing
in a potential gradient. This potential gradient is most often
recognized as gravity but can also be realized from the
presence of an electric field or other potential fields. Within
a potential gradient imposed by gravity, the pressure within
a fluid will increase linearly as the product of the fluids
density and gravity. Since many liquids can be considered
incompressible, a reasonably good estimation can be made
from assuming a constant density throughout a liquid. The
same assumption cannot be made within a gaseous
environment. After integration is performed to determine the
pressure within the fluid, the constant of integration is
dependent on the atmospheric pressure if the fluid is
exposed to the open air. If the water is in a closed system,
the pressure's constant of integration is equal to some
reference pressure within the system.
Table of Hydraulics and Hydrostatics,
from the 1728 Cyclopaedia
where,

■ P is the hydrostatic pressure (Pa);

■ ρ is the liquid density (kg/m3);
■ f is the body force per unit volume acting on the fluid (N/m3)
■ for gravity this is g, for EM fields it is dependent on the charge of the fluid

For water that is only exposed to a gravitational force, the water can typically be considered
incompressible and as such varies only in the gravitational direction (up and down).

where,

■ P is the hydrostatic pressure (Pa);

■ ρ is the liquid density (kg/m3);
■ g is gravitational acceleration (m/s2);
■ h is the height of liquid above (m).
■ P0 is the reference pressure(Pa)

This argument can be generalized to non-uniform fluids in a gravitational field, giving

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where the integral over the dummy variable s is from the depth in question to the location where
pressure is defined to be zero (often, the liquid surface).

Atmospheric pressure
Statistical mechanics shows that, for a gas of constant temperature, T, its pressure, p will vary with
height, h, as:

where:

g = the acceleration due to gravity

T = Absolute temperature (i.e. kelvins)
k = Boltzmann constant
M = mass of a single molecule of gas
p = pressure
h = height

If there are multiple types of molecules in the gas, the partial pressure of each type will be given by this
equation. Under most conditions, the distribution of each species of gas is independent of the other
species.

Buoyancy
Any body of arbitrary shape which is immersed, partly or fully, in a fluid will experience the action of a
net force in the opposite direction of the local pressure gradient. If this pressure gradient arises from
gravity, the net force is in the vertical direction opposite that of the gravitational force. This vertical
force is termed buoyancy or buoyant force and is equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction, to the
weight of the displaced fluid.

In the case of a ship, for instance, its weight is balanced by a buoyant force from the displaced water,
allowing it to float. If more cargo is loaded onto the ship, it would sink more into the water - displacing
more water and thus receive a higher buoyant force to balance the increased weight.

Discovery of the principle of buoyancy is attributed to Archimedes.

Liquids-fluids with free surfaces

Liquids can have free surfaces at which they interface with gases, or with a vacuum. In general, the lack
of the ability to sustain a shear stress entails that free surfaces rapidly adjust towards an equilibrium.
However, on small length scales, there is an important balancing force from surface tension.

Capillary action

When liquids are constrained in vessels whose dimensions are small, compared to the relevant length
scales, surface tension effects become important leading to the formation of a meniscus through
capillary action. This capillary action has profound consequences for biological systems as it is part of
one of the two driving mechanisms of the flow of water in plant xylem, the transpirational pull.

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Drops

Without surface tension, drops would not be able to form. The dimensions and stability of drops are
determined by surface tension.The drop's surface tension is directly proportional to the cohesion
property of the fluid.

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Categories: Continuum mechanics | Pressure | Hydrostatics
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