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Fluid dynamics
Intermediate
Study of fluids in motion.
Study of fluids in motion, with variables velocity, pressure, density and viscosity. Ideal fluids are incompressible, non-viscous and in steady flow.
Water in a pipe or air around a wing.
Real fluids have viscosity.
In more detail
Fluid dynamics studies fluids in motion. It uses conservation of mass, momentum and energy to describe flows in pipes, around objects and in the atmosphere.
Real-world uses
- Aircraft designers use fluid dynamics to shape wings.
- Water supply systems are designed using fluid flow models.
- Engineers designing pipes, pumps and aircraft need fluid dynamics to predict how liquids and gases will move.
Open the interactive lesson, with simulation and quiz →
Frequently asked questions
Is fluid dynamics the same as hydrodynamics?
Hydrodynamics is a term for liquids, while fluid dynamics also covers gases.
Why is it hard?
Fluid flows are often turbulent and nonlinear, which makes exact solutions rare.
Is fluid dynamics only about water?
No. It applies to any liquid or gas, including air around aircraft and blood in arteries.
Related topics in Fluids & Elasticity
Apparent weight in fluid · Stability of floating bodies · Hydrometer · Streamline and turbulent flow · Equation of continuity · Bernoulli's principle