Topic 2: Properties of Fluids

Learning Outcomes: After the lesson, the students should be able to;
1. Identify the properties of fluids;
2. Solve theoretical problems in determining the properties of fluids…
Discussion:

Basic Properties of Fluids

1. Mass Density or Density, ρ (Rho) – it is defined as the mass of a substance per unit
volume.
- Expressed in slugs/ft3, g/cm3, kg/m3

mass of fluid
Mass Density =
volume
M W
ρ= Note: M=mass= ; W = mg
V g
g=acceleration due to gravity
g = 9.81 m/sec2 , 32.2 ft/sec2, 981 cm/sec^2
3 3
For water: at 4oC; ρ = 1000 kg/m , 1 g/cc or 1.94 slugs/ft
3
at 20 oC, ρ = 988 kg/m

 For ideal gas, its density can be found from the specific gas constant and ideal gas law:
P
ρ = RT

where: P- absolute pressure of gas in Pascal, Pa

R- gas constant Joule/ kg-° K

R= 287 J/kg -° K

R= 1716 lb-ft/slug - ° R

T- absolute temperature in ° K elvin

° K=° C+273
° R=° F+ 460
 Approximate Room Temperature Densities of Common Fluids:

Fluid Density (kg/m^3)

Air (STP) 1.29
Air (21 oF, 1 atm) 1.20
Alcohol 790
Ammonia 602
Gasoline 720
Glycerin 1,260
Mercury (Hg) 13,600
 Water 1000

 In general, density of a fluid decreases with increase in temperature.

 It increases with increase in pressure.

2. Specific Volume – the volume of a substance per unit of weight. (m3/KN, ft3/lb).
 It is also referred as the volume occupied by a unit mass of fluid.

Specific Volume, v s = volume = V

weight W
3 3
1 m ft
or V s= ( ∨ )
ρ kg slugs

3. Unit Weight or Specific weight, (γ) – it is the force exerted by gravity over a unit volume of the
substance. It is expressed in KN/m3, N/m3 , lbs/ft3.

weight of fluid
specific weight, γ = volume
= W/V

In terms of density; specific weight, γ = density x gravitational acceleration = ρg

Proof: γ = ρg = kg/m3 x m/sec2 Note: Kg.m/sec2 =N and m3 = V

1 KN = 1000 N

specific weight of water at 20°C = 9.79 kN /m3

specific weight of water at 4°C = 9.81 kN /m3

= 62.4 lb/ft 3

4. Specific Gravity, Gs or s - it is the ratio of the unit weight of a substance to the unit weight of
water.
- is a dimensionless ratio of a fluids density to some standard reference density.
- For liquids and solids, the reference density is water at 4°C (39.2°F).
ρ liquid γ liquid
s= s=
ρ water γ water
ρ gas Gs of other liquids if not
s=
ρ air specified;
For water at 4°C: Oil = 0.82
3 3
γ = 62.4 lb/ft , 9.81 kN¿ m Sea Water = 1.03
ρ = 1.94 slug/ft 3 , 1000 kg /m3 Mercury = 13.6

s = 1.0
 5. Relative Density (Dr) – the ratio of the mass density of a substance to that of water at
standard temperature (4oC) and pressure (atmospheric), (dimensionless)

6. Viscosity of Fluids – it is that property of fluid which by virtue of cohesion and interaction
between molecules, offers some resistance to shear deformation.
- Property of a liquid which determines the amount of its resistance to shearing
stress/forces.
- (N.s/m2, Kg/m.s , lb.s/ft2)
 A perfect fluid has no viscosity
 Viscosity of liquids decreases with increase in temperature whereas the viscosity of gases
increases with temperature.
 Viscometer – instrument use to measure viscosity.

Viscosity, μ (MU)
Area = A U F

V dv moving plate
y dy

fixed plate
Consider two large, parallel plates at a small distance y apart, the space between them being filled with
a fluid. Consider the upper plate to be subject to a force F so as to move with a constant velocity U. The fluid in
constant with the upper plate will adhere to it and will move with the same velocity U while the fluid in constant
with the fixed plate will have a zero velocity. For small values of U and y, the velocity gradient can be assumed
to be a straight line and F varies as A, U and y as:
AU F U U dV
F∞ ∨ ∞ but =¿ ( from the figure )
y A y y dy
F
= shearing stress, τ
A
dV dV
τ∞ or τ¿ k
dy dy
where the constant of proportionally k is called the dynamic of absolute viscosity denoted as μ
dV τ
τ¿ μ μ=¿
dy dV /dy
where:
τ – shear stress in lb/ ft 2 or Pa
μ – absolute viscosity in lb-sec/ ft 2 (poises) or Pa-sec
y – distance between the plates in ft or m
U – velocity in ft/s or m/s
Kinematic Viscosity ,v, (NU)
Kinematic Viscosity is the ratio of the dynamic viscosity of the fluid, μ, to its mass density, ρ
μ
V= where: μ – absolute viscosity in Pa-sec
ρ
ρ - density in kg/m3
Common Units of Viscosity
System Absolute/dynamic, μ Kinematic, v
English lb-sec/ ft 2 (slug/ft-sec) 2
m /sec
Metric dyne-s/cm2 (poise) 2
cm /s (stoke)
S.I Pa-s (N-s/m2) 2
m /s
Note: 1 poise = 1 dyne-s/cm2 = 0.1 Pa-sec (1 dyne = 10−5 N)
1 stoke = 0.0001 m2/s

7. Surface Tension and Capillarity

 Surface Tension σ (SIGMA) – small tensile forces at the interface between the
liquid and air. (N/m)

The membrane of “skin’’ that seems to form on the free surface of a fluid is due to the intermolecular
cohesive forces, and known as surface tension. Surface tension is the reason that insects are able to sit on
water and a needle is able to float on it. Also causes bubbles and droplets to take on a spherical shape, since
any other shape would have more surface area unit volume.
Pressure inside a Droplet of Liquid:
4σ
p= where: σ = surface tension in N/m
d
d = diameter of the droplet in m
p = gage pressure in Pascal, Pa (N/m2
For water:

Liquids possess the properties of cohesion (mutual attraction of like particles to stick
together due to molecular forces) and adhesion (ability of unlike particles to stick together)

Capillary Rise will occur when adhesion is greater than cohesion.

Capillary Depression will occur when cohesion is greater than adhesion

 Capillarity
Capillary action is the name given to the behaviour of the liquid in thin-bore tube. The rise or fall or a
fluid in a capillary tube is caused by surface tension and depends on the relative magnitude of the cohesion of
the liquid and the adhesion of the liquid to the walls of the containing vessel. Liquids rise in tubes they wet
(adhesion>cohesion) and fall in tubes they do not wet (cohesion>adhesion. Capillary is important when using
tubes smaller then about 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) in diameter.

4 σ cos θ
h= γd
 for complete wetting, as with water on clean glass, the θ is 0°. Hence the formula becomes:
4σ
h = γd

Where:
Constant Angle, θ
h = capillary rise or depression m Materials Angle, θ
Mercury-glass 140°
y = unit weight N/m3 Water-paraffin 107°
d = diameter of tube in m Water-silver 90°
Kerosene-glass 26°
σ =surface tension in Pa Glycerin-glass 19°
Water-glass 0°
Ethyl alcohol-glass 0°
8. Compressibility, β
Compressibility (also known as the coefficient of compressibility) is the fractional change in the volume
of a fluid per unit change in pressure in a constant temperature process.
∆V dV
β= V 1 or β= V
=
∆ p EB dp
where: ΔV – change in volume
V – original volume
Δp – change in pressure
dV
– change in volume
V

9. Bulk Modulus of Elasticity, E B

The fluid expresses the compressibility of the fluid. It is the ratio of the change in unit pressure to the
corresponding volume change per unit of volume.
for Adiabatic or Isentropic Conditions (no heat exchanged)
p1 V 1 = p2 V 2
k k

k−1
V 1 k p1 T1 p
or ( ¿¿ = = constant and = ( 1 ¿¿ k
V2 p2 T2 p2

where: p1- initial absolute pressure of gas

p2- final absolute pressure of gas
 V 1- initial volume of gas

V 1- final volume of gas

T 1- initial absolute temperature of gas in °K (°K = °C + 273)

T 1- final absolute temperature of gas in °K

k- ratio of the specific heat at constant pressure to the specific heat at constant volume.
Also known as adiabatic exponent.
Vapor Pressure
Molecular activity in a liquid will allow some of the molecular to escape the liquid surface. Molecular of
the vapor also condense back into the liquid. The vaporization and condensation at constant temperature are
equilibrium processes. The equilibrium pressure exerted by these free molecules is known as the vapor
pressure or saturation pressure.
Typical Vapor Pressures
fluid kPa, 20°C
Mercury 0.000173
Turpentine 0.0534
Water 2.34
Ethyl alcohol 5.86
Ether 58.9
Butane 218
Freon-12 584
Propane 855
Ammonia 888

Unit Accronyms:
1. pcf = pounds per cubic foot = lbs/ft3
2. psf = pounds per square foot = lbs/ft2
3. psi = pounds per square inches = lbs/in2
4. Pa = Pascal = N/m2
5. KPa = Kilopascal = KN/m2

Applications/Examples: Properties of Fluids

1. Carbon tetrachloride with a mass of 500 kg is placed in a container with 0.325 m3 in volume.
a. Calculate its density.
b. Calculate its specific weight.
c. Determine also its weight.

Solution:
a. Density:
m 500
ρ= = = 15.38 kg /m3
v 0.325
b. Specific weight:
γ = ρg = 15.38(9.81)
 γ = 15088 N /m3

or γ = 15.1 kN /m3
c. weight:
γ = W/V; W= γV = 15.1 (0.325) = 4.9 KN

2.If the specific volume of a certain gas is 0.7848 m3/kg, what is the specific weight?
Solution:
1
Vs = ; ρ = 1/ Vs = 1/0.7848 = 1.2742 kg/m3
ρ
Specific weight, γ = ρg = 1.2742 x 9.81 = 12.5 N/m3

.3. If the viscosity of water at 70°C is 0.00402 poise and its specific gravity is 0.978 determine its absolute
viscosity in Pa – s and its kinematic viscosity in m2 /s and in stokes.
Solution:
a. absolute viscosity:
0.1 Pa−s
μ = 0.00402 poise x
1 poise
μ = 0.000402 Pa – s
b. kinematic viscosity:
μ 0.000402 1 stoke
v= = v = 4.11 x 10−7 m2 /s X 2
ρ (1000 x 0.978) 0.0001 m / s
= 4.11 x 10−7 m2 /s = 4.11 x 10−3 stoke

4.The unit weight of water at 50oF is 62.4 pcf. If the volume of the vessel that contains water is 3.50 ft3,
a. what will be the change in its volume when it is heated to 160 oF? Use unit weight of water is 61 pcf at 160 oF.
b. compute the percentage change of volume.
c. what weight of water must be remove to maintain the original volume?
Solutions:
a. W= γV
W50=W160
γ50.V50 = γ160.V160
62.4(3.5) = 61(V160)
V160 = 3.5803 ft3

b. Change in volume = V160-V50 = 3.5803-3.50 = 0.023 or 2.3% (increase)

V50 3.50
c. weight of water that must be removed = (V160-V50)( γ160) = 4.90 lbs
5. A rigid container is partly filled with a liquid at 1520 kPa. The volume of the liquid is 1.232 liters. At a pressure
of 3039 kPa, the volume of the liquid is 1.232 liters.
a. Compute the average bulk modulus of elasticity of the liquid.
b. Compute the coefficient of compressibility.
c. If the liquid has a density of 1593 kg/m3 what is the speed of sound in the medium.
Solution:
−(3039−1520)

√ √
9
a. K = −¿ ¿ = 1.231−1.232 c. V = K = 1.87 x 10
P 1539
1.232
= 1.87 x 10 kPa = 1.87 GPa
6
= 1083 m/s = 1.87 x 109 Pa

1 1
b. β = = = 0.5347 GPa−1
K 1.87

6. Estimate the height to which water will rise in a capillary tube of diameter 3 mm. Use σ = 0.0728 N/m
and γ = 9180 N/m3 for water.
Solution: Note: for θ = 900 for water in clean tube
4σ
Capillary rise, h =
γd

h= 4(0.0728) = 0.0099 m 0r 9.9 mm

9810(0.003)

EXERCISES/ASSESSMENT TASK
1.What would be the weight of 13 kg mass on a planet where the acceleration due to gravity is 10 m/s2?
Ans=30 N
2.Air is kept at a pressure of 200 Kpa and a temperature of 300C in a 500 liters container. What is the mass of
the air? Ans = 1.15 kg

3.Find the angle that the surface tension film leaves the glass for a vertical tube immersed in water if the
diameter is 0.25 inch and the capillary rise is 0.08 inch. Use σ = 0.005 lb/ft. Ans = 64.3 degrees

4.An object has a specific weight of 2.23 KN/m3. Compute the following;
a. mass density
b. mass of the object if volume is 0.001 m3
c. specific volume