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INTRODUCTION
Module 1

DIMENSIONS,
UNITS, and
PHYSICAL QUALITIES

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Fluid Mechanics!
Dimensions
&
Units

SYSTEMS OF UNITS

BRITISH
INTERNATIONAL
GRAVITATIONAL
SYSTEM SYSTEM

SI (System
English Units International) Units

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Dimensions and Base Unit

[ F ] = [ m ][ a ] è read as “the dimension of”
L
F=M
T2

Table 1.1: Dimensions of the relevant base units of the Systeme International (SI) system

Derived Units Table 1.2a: Derived S.I. Units

From these we have

some relevant
derived units.

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SI Prefixes
SI units use prefixes to reduce the number of digits required to display a
quantity. The prefixes and multiples are:

Some Reminders
•  Be very particular about units and prefixes.
•  For example:
§ kN means kilo-Newton = 1000 Newtons
§ Kn is the symbol for knots – an imperial measure of speed
§ KN has no meaning
§ kn means kilo-nano – essentially meaningless

•  Checking the dimensions or units of an equation is very useful to

minimize errors.
•  For example, if when calculating a force and you find a pressure
then you know you’ve made a mistake.

•  MAKE IT A HABIT TO INCLUDE ALL UNITS IN THE

COMPUTATION

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Fluid Mechanics!

Fundamental
Properties

Mass Density, ρ (RHO)

The mass per unit volume of a substance, usually denoted as ρ. Typical
values are:
m
ρ=
V

Unit Weight (Specific Weight), γ (GAMMA)

The weight of a unit volume of a substance, usually denoted as γ.
Essentially density times the acceleration due to gravity:

W γ = ρg Where:
γ= or g = local gravity
V

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Gravitational Acceleration (Logal gravity), g

Standard value : 9.80665 m/s2
Minimum value : 9.770 m/s2
(top of Mount Everest)

Maximum value : 9.830 m/s2

(in the deepest Ocean Trench)

Nominal value : 9.810 m/s2

Approximate Room-Temperature Densities Of

Common Fluid
Fluid ρ in kg/m3 For water at 4°C:
Air (STP) 1.29 •  γ = 62.4 lb/ft3
= 9.81 kN/m3
Air (21°C, 1 atm) 1.20
•  ρ = 1.94 slugs/f3
Alcohol 790 = 1000 kg/m3
•  s = 1.000
Ammonia 602

Gasoline 720

Glycerin 1260

Mercury 13600

Water 1000

Paraffin 800

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Relative Density (Specific Gravity),s.g.

A dimensionless measure of the density of a substance with reference to
the density of some standard substance, usually water at 4°C:

Bulk Modulus, K
In analogy with solids, the bulk modulus is the modulus of elasticity for a
fluid. It is the ratio of the change in unit pressure to the corresponding
volume per unit volume, expressed as:

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Bulk Modulus
•  the negative sign indicates that the volume reduces as the pressure
increases
•  The bulk modulus changes with the pressure and density of the fluid but
for liquids can be considered constant for normal usage.
•  Typical values are:

The units are the same as those of stress or pressure.

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Viscosity
•  The viscosity of a fluid determines the amount of resistance to shear
force.
•  Viscosities of liquids decreases as temperature increases and are
usually not affected by pressure changes.
•  In everyday terms (and for fluids only), viscosity is "thickness" or
"internal friction".

•  From Newton’s Law of Viscosity:

Common Units Of Viscosity

System Absolute, µ Kinematic, v

English lb-sec/ft2(slug/ft-sec) ft2/sec
Metric dyne-s/cm2(poise) cm2/s(stoke)
SI Pa-s(N-s/m2) m2/s

Note:
1 poise = 1 dyne-s/cm2 = 0.1 Pa-sec (1 dyne = 10-5 N)
1 stoke = 0.0001 m2/s

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SURFACE TENSION, σ (SIGMA)

The membrane of “skin” that seems to form on the free surface of a
fluid is due to the intermolecular cohesive forces, and is known as
surface tension.

p = 4σ
d
where:
σ = surface tension in N/m
d = diameter of droplet in m
p = gage pressure in Pa

Surface Tension
Molecular attraction forces in liquids:
– Cohesion: enables liquid to resist tensile stress
– Adhesion: enables liquid to adhere to another
body

Liquid-fluid interfaces:
– Liquid-gas interface: free surface
– Liquid-liquid (immiscible) interface

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Surface Tension
Surface tension of various liquids
– Cover a wide range
– Decrease slightly with increasing
temperature

Values of surface tension for water between

freezing and boiling points
– 0.00518 to 0.00404 lb/ft or 0.0756 to
0.0589 N/m

CAPILLARITY (Capillary Action)

•  The name given to the behavior of the liquid in a
thin-bore tube.
•  Liquids rise in tube they wet (adhesion>cohesion)
•  Liquids fall in tubes they do not wet
(cohesion>adhesion).
•  Capillary is important when using tubes smaller than
about 3/8 inch in diameter.

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CAPILLARITY (Capillary Action)

* Cohesion < adhesion, liquid wets solid, rises at point of contact

* Cohesion > adhesion, liquid surface depresses at point of contact
* Meniscus: curved liquid surface that develops in a tube

Formula:
h = 4σcosθ
γd

For complete wetting, as with water on clean glass, the angle

θ is 0°. Hence the formula becomes

h = 4σ
γd
where:
h = capillary rise or depression in m
γ = unit weight in N/m3
d = diameter of the tube in m
σ = surface tension in Pa

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Applications
—  Its effects are negligible in most engineering situations.

—  Important in problems involving capillary rise,

e.g., soil water zone, water supply to plants

—  When small tubes are used for measuring properties,

e.g., pressure, account must be made for capillarity

—  Surface tension important in:

– Small models in hydraulic model studies
– Break up of liquid jets
– Formation of drops and bubbles

Contact Angles, θ
Materials Angle, θ
mercury-glass 140°
water-paraffin 107°
water-silver 90°
kerosene-glass 26°
glycerin-glass 19°
water-glass 0°
ethyl alcohol-glass 0°

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COMPRESSIBILITY, ß
The fractional change in the volume of a fluid per unit change in
pressure in a constant-temperature process

ß = dV/V
dp
where:
∆V = change in volume
V = original volume
∆p = change in pressure
dV/V = change in volume (usually in percent)

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