The Physics of Fluid Mechanics
(left to right) An offshore oil production platform, inflatable walk-on-water balls and a hydraulic bridge.Copyright (left to right) 2004 FlickrLickr, Chad Teer, Wikimedia Commons; 2010 Alina Zienowicz, Wikimedia Commons; 1996 Keith Edkins, Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gulf_Offshore_Platform.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goraszka_Air_Picnic_2010_%2822%29.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Llanthony_Road_hydraulic_bridge_open_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1118455.jpg
Overview of topics by lesson: 1) Archimedes' principle, Pascal's law, Bernoulli's principle, 2) the concepts covered in the first lesson applied to the use and failure of above-ground storage tanks in the Houston Ship Channel.
Physics and fluid mechanics are integral parts of engineering, and both are typically presented as required courses at most universities for most engineering majors. Engineers apply Pascal's law, Archimedes' principle and Bernoulli's principle to design and construct various floating vessels, submersibles, airplanes, automobiles, pipelines and transport systems, hydraulic structures and even petrochemical storage tanks. Ocean and marine engineers study the offshore environment to design oil rigs and production platforms as well as floating vessels and subsea pipeline systems needed in the oil production process. Other engineers design different types of submersibles and remotely operated vehicles used to explore deep-water environments. Still other engineers apply these scientific concepts to become specialists in hydraulics—the use of liquid power to do work—and they design heavy machinery, water distribution systems, sewage networks, storm water management systems, bridges, dams, channels, canals and levees.
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Day 1 – Archimedes' Principle (lesson 1)
Day 2 – Pascal's Law (lesson 1)
Day 3 – Bernoulli's Principle (lesson 1)
Day 4 – Buoyancy & Pressure in Fluids: Soda Bottle Cartesian Diver activity
Day 5 – Rock and Boat: Density, Buoyancy & Archimedes’ Principle activity
(optional additional activity) – A Shot Under Pressure activity (120 minutes)
Day 6 – Above-Ground Storage Tanks in the Houston Ship Channel (lesson 2)
Days 7-10 – Students use class time to work on Above-Ground Storage Tank Design Project activity
Day 11 – Student presentations
- The Physics of Fluid Mechanics
Contributors
Emily Sappington; Mila Taylor
Supporting Program
National Science Foundation GK-12 and Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Programs, University of Houston
Acknowledgements
This digital library content was developed by the University of Houston's College of Engineering, based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under GK-12 grant no. DGE 0840889. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Copyright
2014 by Regents of the University of Colorado; original © 2013 University of Houston