fluidscommonly

Fluids commonly refers to substances that have the ability to flow and take the shape of their container. This category primarily includes liquids and gases. Liquids, such as water, oil, and mercury, have a definite volume but no definite shape. Gases, like air, oxygen, and helium, have neither a definite volume nor a definite shape, expanding to fill whatever container they are placed in. The key characteristic differentiating fluids from solids is their low resistance to shear stress, meaning they deform continuously under applied shear stress.

The study of fluids is known as fluid mechanics, which is broadly divided into fluid statics and fluid dynamics. Fluid statics deals with fluids at rest, examining concepts like pressure and buoyancy. Fluid dynamics, on the other hand, investigates fluids in motion, analyzing phenomena such as flow rate, viscosity, and turbulence. Understanding fluid behavior is crucial in numerous scientific and engineering disciplines, including aeronautics, hydraulics, meteorology, and physiology. Many everyday phenomena, from the circulation of blood in our bodies to the weather patterns across the globe, are governed by the principles of fluid mechanics.