Fluid mechanics is a branch of physics that studies the behavior of fluids (liquids, gases, and plasmas) and the forces acting on them. It encompasses several sub-disciplines, including:
Hydrostatics: The study of fluids at rest and the forces in equilibrium within them. Key concepts include pressure, buoyancy, and Pascal's principle.
Hydrodynamics: The study of fluids in motion. This includes understanding flow patterns, velocity fields, and the forces that cause fluid motion. Key principles include Bernoulli's equation, continuity equation, and the Navier-Stokes equations.
Rheology: The study of the deformation and flow of matter, focusing on the non-Newtonian flow where the fluid's viscosity changes with the applied stress.
Fluid mechanics is essential in various fields such as engineering, meteorology, oceanography, and even medicine. Applications include designing pipelines, predicting weather patterns, understanding blood flow, and developing aircraft and automobile aerodynamics.