Properties of Solids and Liquids

Master elasticity, fluid mechanics, viscosity, and surface tension for JEE Physics.

This chapter covers the mechanical properties of solids (elasticity) and fluids (liquids and gases).

Overview

graph TD
    A[Properties of Matter] --> B[Elasticity]
    A --> C[Fluid Statics]
    A --> D[Fluid Dynamics]
    A --> E[Surface Tension]
    B --> B1[Stress-Strain]
    B --> B2[Moduli of Elasticity]
    C --> C1[Pressure]
    C --> C2[Pascal's Law]
    C --> C3[Buoyancy]
    D --> D1[Bernoulli's Theorem]
    D --> D2[Viscosity]

Elasticity

Stress

Force per unit area:

$$\sigma = \frac{F}{A}$$

Types:

  • Tensile stress
  • Compressive stress
  • Shear stress

Strain

Relative deformation:

$$\epsilon = \frac{\Delta L}{L}$$

Hooke’s Law

Within elastic limit:

$$\text{Stress} \propto \text{Strain}$$

Moduli of Elasticity

ModulusFormulaType of Deformation
Young’s (Y)$\frac{FL}{A\Delta L}$Longitudinal
Bulk (B)$\frac{-PV}{\Delta V}$Volume
Rigidity (η)$\frac{F/A}{\theta}$Shape

Poisson’s Ratio:

$$\sigma = \frac{\text{Lateral strain}}{\text{Longitudinal strain}}$$

Fluid Statics

Pressure in Fluids

$$P = P_0 + \rho g h$$

Pressure at depth h below surface

Pascal’s Law

Pressure applied to enclosed fluid is transmitted equally in all directions.

Hydraulic Lift:

$$\frac{F_1}{A_1} = \frac{F_2}{A_2}$$

Buoyancy

Archimedes’ Principle: Buoyant force = Weight of displaced fluid

$$F_B = \rho_{fluid} \cdot V_{submerged} \cdot g$$

Floating Condition:

$$\frac{V_{submerged}}{V_{total}} = \frac{\rho_{object}}{\rho_{fluid}}$$

Fluid Dynamics

Equation of Continuity

For incompressible flow:

$$A_1 v_1 = A_2 v_2$$

Bernoulli’s Theorem

For steady, irrotational flow:

$$\boxed{P + \frac{1}{2}\rho v^2 + \rho g h = \text{constant}}$$

Applications:

  • Venturi meter
  • Airplane lift
  • Magnus effect

Torricelli’s Theorem

Speed of efflux from tank:

$$v = \sqrt{2gh}$$

Viscosity

Newton’s Law of Viscosity

$$F = \eta A \frac{dv}{dx}$$

where η = coefficient of viscosity

Stokes’ Law

Viscous force on sphere:

$$F = 6\pi \eta r v$$

Terminal Velocity

$$v_t = \frac{2r^2(\rho - \sigma)g}{9\eta}$$

where ρ = density of sphere, σ = density of fluid

Reynolds Number

$$R_e = \frac{\rho v d}{\eta}$$
  • Laminar flow: $R_e < 2000$
  • Turbulent flow: $R_e > 3000$

Surface Tension

Definition

$$S = \frac{F}{L}$$

Force per unit length at the surface

Surface Energy

$$E = S \times A$$

Energy per unit area = Surface tension

Pressure Difference

Soap bubble (two surfaces):

$$\Delta P = \frac{4S}{R}$$

Liquid drop (one surface):

$$\Delta P = \frac{2S}{R}$$

Capillary Rise

$$h = \frac{2S\cos\theta}{\rho g r}$$

Angle of Contact:

  • Water-glass: 0° (wets)
  • Mercury-glass: 140° (doesn’t wet)

Practice Problems

  1. A wire of length 2 m and diameter 2 mm extends by 1 mm when a force of 100 N is applied. Find Young’s modulus.

  2. Water flows through a pipe of varying cross-section. At one point, the radius is 10 cm and velocity is 2 m/s. Find velocity where radius is 5 cm.

  3. A sphere of radius 1 cm falls through glycerine. Find terminal velocity. (Given: η = 0.8 Pa·s, ρ_sphere = 8000 kg/m³)

Quick Check
Why do small insects float on water while a needle sinks?

Further Reading