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Physics 20 flashcards ~10 min

Fluid Mechanics and Pressure

Fluid mechanics explains everything from why ships float to how airplane wings generate lift, and this deck of 20 flashcards covers the core principles step by step. You'll start with the definition of pressure and how it varies with depth in a fluid, then mov...

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Fluid mechanics explains everything from why ships float to how airplane wings generate lift, and this deck of 20 flashcards covers the core principles step by step. You'll start with the definition of pressure and how it varies with depth in a fluid, then move into Pascal's principle, Archimedes' principle and buoyancy, and the conditions for an object to float versus sink. The deck explains Bernoulli's principle and how it relates fluid speed to pressure, along with its real-world applications in aircraft lift and the Venturi effect, before covering the continuity equation for fluid flow in pipes. It finishes with viscosity, the distinction between laminar and turbulent flow, and surface tension. Suited to A-Level and AP Physics students, this deck connects each formula to an intuitive real-world example, making abstract fluid concepts easier to visualize and recall under exam conditions.

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Pressure = Force ÷ Area.
Pressure increases linearly with depth due to the weight of fluid above.
Pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted equally throughout the fluid.
The buoyant force on an object equals the weight of fluid it displaces.
Whether its density is less than or greater than the fluid's density.
The upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an immersed object.
As the speed of a fluid increases, its pressure decreases.
Air moves faster over the curved top of a wing, lowering pressure there and creating lift.
The pressure drop caused by fluid speeding up as it flows through a narrower section of pipe.
A1v1 = A2v2 — flow rate is constant, so velocity increases where cross-sectional area decreases.
A fluid's resistance to flow.
Laminar flow is smooth and orderly; turbulent flow is chaotic and irregular.
Predicting whether flow will be laminar or turbulent.
The tendency of a liquid's surface to minimize area, caused by cohesive forces between molecules.
Adhesive forces between a liquid and a narrow tube's surface, pulling the liquid upward.
Multiplying force using a small input force over a small area to create a large output force over a large area.
Approximately 101,325 Pa (1 atmosphere).
A barometer.
Measuring the pressure of a gas or liquid.
Their overall shape displaces enough water that their average density is less than water's.