Fluid mechanics has profound importance in Earth and planetary sciences because various phenomena on the Earth and planets are related to the dynamic motion of the fluids. This course is designed as an introductory course for fluid mechanics for Earth and planetary sciences: it begins with fundamental aspects of fluid mechanics and will deal with typical fluid motions in the field of Earth and planetary sciences.
By completing this course, students will able to
(1) Understand the basic terms and equations of the fluid mechanics,
(2) Understand the basic aspects of the flow of inviscid, incompressible fluid,
(3) Understand the basic aspects of the flow of viscous fluid,
(4) Understand the basic aspects of the fluid mechanical stability.
inviscid and incompressible fluids, viscous fluids, geophysical fluid dynamics
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
This course mainly consists of lectures. Discussions will be held about exercises.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Basics for fluids. | Understand the concept of the fluid as a continuum. |
Class 2 | Motion of fluids | Understand how to describe the motion of the fluids. |
Class 3 | Fundamental equations of fluid mechanics (1): the equation of continuity | Understand the equation of continuity |
Class 4 | Fundamental equations of fluid mechanics (2): the stress tensor | Understand the stress tensor and constitutive relations. |
Class 5 | Fundamental equations of fluid mechanics (3): the equation of motion | Understand the equation of motion |
Class 6 | Fundamental equations of fluid mechanics (4): the energy equations | Understand energy equations |
Class 7 | Ideal fluids (1): the circulation theorem | Understand the circulation theorem |
Class 8 | Ideal fluids (2): the Bernoulli's theorem | Understand the Bernoulli's theorem |
Class 9 | Ideal fluids (3): the potential flow | Understand the potential description of the fluid flow. |
Class 10 | Viscous fluids (1): the steady flow | Understand effect of viscosity in steady flow |
Class 11 | Viscous fluids (2): similarities in fluid flow | Understand similarities in fluid flow |
Class 12 | Viscous fluids (3): turbulence | Understand physical aspects of turbulence |
Class 13 | Rotating fluid | Understand fluid motions under rotating coordinate system. |
Class 14 | Fluid mechanical stability (1): the concept of stability | Understand how to describe the concept of stability mathematically. |
Class 15 | Fluid mechanical stability (2): thermal convection | Understand the conditions for the thermal convection |
None
Fluid Mechanics, Landau & Lifshitz, Butterworth-Heinemann
Student's knowledge and understanding of fluid mechanics are assessed by contents of reports and exams.
It is recommended to complete the courses of Mechanics (EPS course), Electromagnetism (EPS course), Mathematics for Physics A (EPS course), Mathematics for Physics B (EPS course) and Thermodynamics (EPS course) before taking this course.