Introduction to Fluid Mechanics: Basic Principles and Properties

This lecture provides an introduction to fluid mechanics, focusing on the fundamental concepts and properties of fluids. The instructor begins by defining what constitutes a fluid, explaining that it can be either a liquid or a gas, and emphasizes that fluids do not have a defined shape. The discussion progresses to the basic laws of fluid dynamics that must be satisfied in any fluid flow problem, including conservation of mass, Newton's second law, and conservation of energy. The instructor elaborates on the properties of fluids, such as density, specific volume, and specific weight, and introduces the concept of viscosity, which describes a fluid's resistance to shear stress. The ideal gas law is also mentioned as a critical relationship for gases, linking pressure, temperature, and density. The lecture concludes with a preview of the next session, where viscosity will be explored in greater detail, highlighting its significance in understanding fluid behavior under various conditions.