The basic concepts behind fluid mechanics are presented in this lesson. These types of engineers are responsible for water transport systems and sewage networks in urbanized areas as well as the design of bridges, dams, channels, canals, levees and pipe networks, both free-standing and in buildings. It is an especially important area of study for hydraulic engineering and environmental engineering, which are both sub-disciplines of civil engineering. The suggested time to complete this presentation is three class periods, but increase or decrease the duration, as needed.įluid mechanics is an essential course at most universities and required for most engineering majors. Lesson Background and Concepts for TeachersĪll concepts for this lesson are covered in the 22-slide Fluids Presentation, a Microsoft PowerPoint® file. (Move on and present to students the attached slide presentation and content in the Background section.) Who has heard of the term hydraulics? What are some examples of hydraulic devices? Who knows what this means or how it works? (Listen to student answers.) When you are swimming in a pool, do you feel lighter or heavier than when you are walking on the ground? How much lighter are you? (Listen to student answers.) Who knows why ships float? (Listen to student answers.) (Ask students some preliminary questions to determine whether they have heard of Archimedes' principle, Pascal's law or Bernoulli's principle, or any of the physics concepts behind them.)

Physics Problem Solving Rubric (pdf) Visit [ to print or download.Īn understanding of basic algebra is required in order to solve and manipulate the equations in this lesson. Explain situations involving the Bernoulli Effect.Solve problems using the Bernoulli equation and the continuity equation.Solve problems involving pressure, density and Pascal's law.

Use Archimedes' principle to determine buoyancy forces.

The concepts of Pascal's law, Archimedes' principle and Bernoulli's principle are important in engineering and technology applications, including aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, hydraulics, floating vessels, submersibles, airplanes, automobiles, aerospace guidance and control, pipelines and transport systems, as well as for many modern research topics such as ocean-related flows, turbulence, reacting flows, global climate, bio-fluid mechanics, flow over magnetic tapes and disks, geophysical flows, kinetics of combustion systems, and vortex dynamics.Īfter this lesson, students should be able to: A PowerPoint® presentation, practice problems and grading rubric are provided. Students can use the associated activities to strengthen their understanding of relationships between the previous concepts and real-life examples. Fundamental definitions, equations, practice problems and engineering applications are supplied. Students are introduced to Pascal's law, Archimedes' principle and Bernoulli's principle.

Examples of bernoulli principle