PH4031 Fluids

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Module coordinator

Dr R J Smith

Dr R J Smith
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module provides an introduction to fluid dynamics, and addresses the underlying physics behind many everyday flows that we see around us. It starts from a derivation of the equations of hydrodynamics and introduces the concept of vorticity and the essentials of vorticity dynamics. The influence of viscosity and the formation of boundary layers is described with some straightforward examples. The effect of the compressibility of a fluid is introduced and applied to shock formation and to the conservation relations that describe flows through shocks. A simple treatment of waves and instabilities then allows a comparison between theory and readily-observed structures in clouds, rivers and shorelines.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PH3081 OR PASS PH3082 OR ( PASS MT2506 AND PASS MT2507 )

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment, capped at grade 7

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures and some tutorials.

Scheduled learning hours

28

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

122

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Apply conservation relations to determine the properties of given flow patterns
  • Determine the vorticity of a flow and describe its behaviour
  • Use Bernoulli's equation to analyse simple flows and describe the role of viscosity and solve for simple ideal fluid flows
  • Use the shock relations to relate fluid properties on each side of a shock
  • Describe and calculate the onset of simple instabilities

Additional information from school

For guidance on AS and PH modules please consult the School Handbook, at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/physics-astronomy/students/ug/timetables-handbooks/