Fluid Mechanics

How liquids and gases flow, push and keep things afloat.

Unit 1: Fluid Properties




  1. Why Does Honey Pour So Slowly?
    Water rushes out of a jar in a second. Honey takes its time. What is holding it back?
    7 min Viscosity Race Quiz




  2. How Does Water Climb Up A Thin Tube?
    Dip a tissue in tea and the tea climbs up it, against gravity. Where does that lift come from?
    7 min Capillary Rise Quiz

Unit 2: Fluid Statics




  1. Why Are Dams Thicker At The Bottom?
    A dam can be 30 metres thick at its base and only a few metres at the top. Why build it that way?
    7 min Pressure At Depth Quiz




  2. How Does A Small Push Lift A Car?
    A mechanic lifts a one-tonne car with one hand on a hydraulic jack. Trick, or clever physics?
    6 min Hydraulic Lift Quiz




  3. Why Does A Steel Ship Float?
    A steel nail sinks in a second, yet a ship made of thousands of tonnes of steel floats. How?
    8 min Float Or Sink Quiz