PHYSICS 1A03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Surface Tension, Net Force, Buoyancy

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Physics
• Course: PHYSICS 1A03
• Professor: Christine Wilson

Document Summary

To identify the characteristics of uids that distinguish them from solids. To quantify pressure within uids, and to understand how pressure varies within both liquids and gases. To explore the buoyant force and to quantify its in uence on objects within a uid. To understand the phenomenon of surface tension, and identify its role in determining the shape of uids. Both liquids and gases are considered uids-they both ow. Particles in uids still attract each other but to a lesser extent so they are not bound to one place. Gases have a much lower density than solids and liquids. We say gases are compressible, which is a key distinction between gases and liquids, thus liquids are incompressible. Pressure is the average force per unit area, in the units pascals, where 1 pa = 1 n/m2. At this location in the uid, the pressure has a constant value and is the same in all directions.