Department of Physics/Science

Physics 3230:  Fluid Mechanics

Instructor E-mail:  Dr. David Bahr  [Office hours]
Phone:     (218)755-2916

Note to students:  Physics Club problem-solving clinic schedule in Sattgast 334, or check with a Physics Club member.
Preliminary Course Syllabus

Course Agenda (revised 8/14/2009):
Week 1:  INTRODUCTION
    8/24/2009:  Secs. 1.1 - 1.4:  Basic concepts and tools
    8/26/2009:  Secs. 1.5 - 1.7:  Viscosity, compressibility
    8/28/2009:  Secs. 1.8 - 1.10:  Surface tension 
Week 2:  FLUID STATICS
    8/31/2009:  Secs. 2.1 - 2.4:  Pressure
    9/2/2009:  Secs. 2.5 - 2.7:  Pressure measurement
    9/4/2009:  Secs. 2.8 - 2.10:  Hydrostatic force on immersed surface
Week 3:  FLUID STATICS
    9/7/2009:  Labor Day - no classes
    9/9/2009:  Secs. 2.11 - 2.12:  Buoyancy and floatation
    9/11/2009:   Review and problem-solving
Week 4:  ELEMENTARY FLUID DYNAMICS - THE BERNOULLI EQUATION
    9/14/2009:  Secs. 3.1 - 3.4:  Newton's 2nd law
    9/16/2009:  Secs. 3.5 - 3.6:  Use of the Bernoulli equation
    9/18/2009:  Secs. 3.7 - 3.9:  The energy line and hydraulic grade line
Week 5:  FLUID KINEMATICS
    9/21/2009:  Sec. 4.1:  The velocity field
    9/23/2009:  Sec. 4.1:  The velocity field
    9/25/2009:  Sec. 4.2:  The acceleration field
Week 6:   FLUID KINEMATICS
     9/28/2009:  Secs. 4.3 - 4.4:  The Reynolds transport theorem
     9/30/2009:  Review and problem-solving
    10/2/2009:  No classes; in-service duty day
Week 7:   FINITE CONTROL VOLUME ANALYSIS
    10/5/2009:  Mid-course evaluations; Midterm Exam (in class, written)
    10/7/2009:  Sec. 5.1:  Conservation of mass
    10/9/2009:  Fall Break - no classes
Week 8:  FINITE CONTROL VOLUME ANALYSIS
    10/12/2009:  Sec. 5.2:  Conservation of momentum
    10/14/2009:  Sec. 5.3:  The first law of thermodynamics
    10/16/2009:  Sec. 5.4:  The second law of thermodynamics
Week 9:  DIFFERENTIAL ANALYSIS OF FLUID FLOW
    10/19/2009:  Sec. 6.1:  Fluid element kinematics
    10/21/2009:  Secs. 6.2 - 6.3:  Conservation of mass and momentum
    10/23/2009:  Sec. 6.4:  Inviscid flow
Week 10:  DIFFERENTIAL ANALYSIS OF FLUID FLOW
    10/26/2009:  Secs. 6.5 - 6.7:  Basic plane potential flows
    10/28/2009:  Secs. 6.8 - 6.9:  Viscous flow, the Navier-Stokes equations
    10/30/2009:  Sec. 6.10:  Numerical methods, other aspects of differential analysis
Week 11:  DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS, SIMILITUDE AND MODELING
    11/2/2009:  Review and problem-solving
    11/4/2009:  Secs. 7.1 - 7.2:  Buckingham Pi theorem
    11/6/2009:  Secs. 7.3 - 7.5:  Determination of Pi terms
Week 12:  DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS, SIMILITUDE AND MODELING
    11/9/2009:  Secs. 7.6 - 7.7:  Correlation of experimental data
    11/11/2009:  No classes; Veterans' Day
    11/13/2009:  Sec. 7.8:  Modeling and similitude
Week 13:  DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS, SIMILITUDE AND MODELING
    11/16/2009:  Secs. 7.9 - 7.10:  Typical model studies
    11/18/2009:  Review and problem-solving
    11/20/2009:  Sec. 9.1:  General external flow characteristics
Week 14:  FLOW OVER IMMERSED BODIES   
    11/23/2009:  Sec. 9.2:  Boundary layer characteristics
    11/25-27/2009:  Thanksgiving Break - no classes
Week 15:  FLOW OVER IMMERSED BODIES
    11/30/2009:  Sec. 9.2:  Boundary layer characteristics
    12/2/2009:  Sec. 9.3:  Drag
    12/4/2009:  Sec. 9.3:  Lift.
Week 16:  FINALS WEEK
    12/7/2009:  Review; course evaluations
    12/14/2009:  Final Exam  10:30 - 12:30 in room S331 

Last modified:  8/14/2009
Comments to:  dbahr@bemidjistate.edu