What+is+a+fluid?


 * __WHAT IS A FLUID?__**

Answer the question below, append new answers to the top of this page. _ __Response 1:__
 * Please append your name and qualification / designation after your response
 * Student researched responses MUST be cited, paraphrased, and student names must also be appended to their entries. (First Name, Last Initial)
 * Don't forget to save your entry after you are done.
 * All entries without a contributor's name will be deleted by a moderator.
 * Controversial issues that are raised here that are outside of the scope of the Alberta Curriculum, will be deleted if deemed inappropriate by the moderator.
 * Do not delete any entries without direction from a moderator, you can contact Louis.c@calgaryscienceschool.com if you would like permission to moderate, or if you have reason to remove any entries.

What is a fluid? A fluid is any substance that can flow and has no fixed shape and yields easily to external pressure. Fluids can return to their original size when pressure is removed from it. Fluids are usually gases or liquids. The difference between fluids and solids is that solids have a fixed shape, but a fluid takes the shape of the container in which it is contained. A fluid is like a river. A river is able to flow easily, but a dam can stop it, and once the water from the river is released from a dam, it returns back into its original size.

Fluids have multiple properties such as density, buoyancy, viscosity, and compressibility. Density is the amount of matter or molecules in a fluid in a given volume and the compactness of fluid. Density is measured by dividing the mass of the fluid by its volume. When the temperature of the fluid is warmer, it is less dense because the molecules in the fluid are moving around faster and are more spread out, and are not as compact. Buoyancy is the tendency of an object to float when it’s placed in a fluid. The buoyancy force is a force in a liquid that contradicts gravity and it pushes the object upward in a liquid. Viscosity is how fast or slow a fluid flows. Viscosity is the liquids internal resistance or the amount of friction that stops it from flowing. The higher the viscosity, the thicker the fluid is and the fluid flows slower. Compressibility is the change of density with pressure, and the change of a fluid’s volume from pressure changes.

Megan Lee 8.3 December 18th 2011

References:
 * 1) Science in Action 8 Textbook. Addison Wesley. Pages 39, 42, 48, 50. Copyright © 2001 Pearson Education Canada Inc. Toronto, Ontario.
 * 2) []Davis, Raymond E. "Fluid." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2011. Web. 15 Dec. 2011.
 * 3) [] Hogg, R. "Viscosity." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2011. Web. 15 Dec. 2011.
 * 4) [] Dr. Ashlie Martini. Purdue University. “Compressibility of Liquids: Current Methods and Future Direction”. Slides 6 and 7. Viewed 15 Dec. 2011.

__Additional Responses:__

_ //Please report abuse of this wiki to Louis Cheng at louis.c@calgaryscienceschool.com, and note that any answers listed here are put forth in the spirit of sharing information. Not all answers are verified to be correct, and may include bias or opinion offered by contributing experts. Agents of the Calgary Science School, and the institution as a whole will not be held responsible for the content contributed by the public.//