Dr. John Biddle: Fluid Mechanics
Complete undergraduate fluid mechanics course - 18 comprehensive lectures
About This Series
Dr. John Biddle presents a comprehensive undergraduate fluid mechanics course covering fundamental concepts through advanced applications. These lectures provide systematic coverage of fluid statics, kinematics, dynamics, and viscous flow with clear explanations and practical examples.
The series is ideal for engineering and physics students, providing the essential foundation needed for plasma physics (MHD), astrophysics, and engineering applications. Dr. Biddle's teaching emphasizes both physical intuition and mathematical rigor.
Course Highlights
- • Systematic Coverage: From statics through Navier-Stokes equations
- • Clear Explanations: Physical intuition alongside mathematical development
- • Practical Examples: Real-world applications and problem-solving
- • Foundation for Plasmas: Essential preparation for MHD and two-fluid theory
- • Engineering Focus: Pipe flow, losses, practical fluid systems
Level
Undergraduate engineering/physics. Accessible to students with calculus and basic physics.
Duration
18 core lectures + 1 interview with Dr. Biddle
Prerequisites
Vector calculus, differential equations, classical mechanics
Course Structure
Part I: Fluid Statics (Lectures 1-7)
- • Fundamental concepts & properties
- • Pascal's law & pressure
- • Forces on submerged surfaces
- • Buoyancy & Archimedes' principle
- • Bernoulli equation introduction
Part II: Fluid Kinematics (Lectures 8-10)
- • Fluid motion description
- • Reynolds Transport Theorem
- • Conservation of mass (continuity)
- • Bernoulli applications
Part III: Fluid Dynamics (Lectures 11-14)
- • Linear momentum equation
- • Energy equation
- • Differential formulation
- • Conservation laws
Part IV: Viscous Flow (Lectures 15-18)
- • Navier-Stokes equations
- • Laminar vs turbulent flow
- • Pipe flow & Moody diagram
- • Minor losses in piping systems
Complete Lecture Series
All 18 lectures from Dr. Biddle's fluid mechanics course, plus a bonus interview.
Fundamental Concepts & Fluid Properties
Introduction to fluid mechanics, definition of fluids, fluid properties (density, viscosity, surface tension), continuum hypothesis
Video Lecture
Fundamental Concepts, Fluid Properties
Introduction to fluid mechanics and fundamental properties
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Pascal's Law, Hydrostatic Pressure, Manometry
Pascal's law for pressure transmission, hydrostatic pressure variations with depth, manometers and pressure measurement
Video Lecture
Pascal's Law, Hydrostatic Pressure Variations, Manometry
Pressure in static fluids and measurement techniques
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Forces on Submerged Surfaces I
Calculating forces on plane submerged surfaces, pressure distribution, resultant force and center of pressure
Video Lecture
Forces on Submerged Surfaces I
Force calculations on plane surfaces in fluids
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Forces on Submerged Surfaces II
Curved surfaces, force components, gates and locks, applications to engineering structures
Video Lecture
Forces on Submerged Surfaces II
Advanced force calculations on curved surfaces
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Buoyancy & Bernoulli Equation
Archimedes' principle, buoyant forces, stability of floating bodies, introduction to Bernoulli equation
Video Lecture
Buoyancy & the Bernoulli Equation
Buoyancy and introduction to Bernoulli's principle
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Bernoulli Equation Examples
Applications of Bernoulli equation, flow through pipes and nozzles, pitot tubes, venturi meters
Video Lecture
Bernoulli Equation Examples
Practical applications of Bernoulli's equation
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Fluid Statics Examples
Comprehensive examples covering all fluid statics topics: pressure, forces, buoyancy, Bernoulli
Video Lecture
Fluid Statics Examples
Problem-solving in fluid statics
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Fluid Kinematics
Lagrangian vs Eulerian description, velocity and acceleration fields, streamlines, pathlines, streaklines
Video Lecture
Fluid Kinematics
Description of fluid motion and flow visualization
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Reynolds Transport Theorem, Conservation of Mass
Reynolds Transport Theorem for control volumes, continuity equation (mass conservation), kinematics examples
Video Lecture
Reynolds Transport Theorem, Conservation of Mass, Kinematics Examples
Fundamental theorem and mass conservation
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Continuity, Bernoulli & Kinematics Examples
Continuity equation applications, Bernoulli equation for streamlines, combined examples
Video Lecture
Continuity Equation, Bernoulli Equation, & Kinematics Examples
Applied problem-solving in fluid kinematics
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Linear Momentum Equation & Examples
Derivation of momentum equation from Reynolds Transport Theorem, forces on control volumes, Bernoulli examples
Video Lecture
Linear Momentum Equation and Bernoulli Equation Examples
Momentum conservation and applications
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Linear Momentum Equation Examples
Forces on bends, nozzles, and vanes; jet impingement; momentum applications to engineering problems
Video Lecture
Linear Momentum Equation Examples
Practical momentum equation applications
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Energy Equation & Kinematics Examples
Energy equation from first law of thermodynamics, head loss, pumps and turbines, combined examples
Video Lecture
Energy Equation and Kinematics Examples
Energy conservation in fluid flows
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Energy Examples & Differential Continuity
Energy equation applications, introduction to differential form of continuity equation
Video Lecture
Energy Equation Examples, Differential Continuity Equation
Energy applications and differential formulation
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Navier-Stokes Equations & Energy Examples
Derivation of Navier-Stokes equations, viscous stress tensor, conservation of energy examples
Video Lecture
Navier-Stokes Equations, Conservation of Energy Examples
Viscous flow governing equations
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Viscous Pipe Flow & Laminar Characteristics
Fully developed laminar pipe flow, Hagen-Poiseuille equation, velocity profiles, friction factor
Video Lecture
Viscous Flow in Pipes, Laminar Pipe Flow Characteristics
Laminar flow analysis in pipes
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Laminar & Turbulent Flow, Moody Diagram
Reynolds number, transition to turbulence, Moody diagram for friction factor, pipe roughness effects
Video Lecture
Laminar & Turbulent Pipe Flow, The Moody Diagram
Flow regimes and friction in pipes
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Minor Losses in Pipe Flow
Head loss in fittings, valves, bends, expansions/contractions; loss coefficients; piping system design
Video Lecture
Minor Losses in Pipe Flow
Losses in pipe fittings and components
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Bonus: Interview with Dr. John Biddle
Dr. Biddle discusses his approach to teaching fluid mechanics, insights on the subject, and advice for students
Video Lecture
Interview with Dr. John Biddle
Insights on teaching and learning fluid mechanics
💡 Tip: Watch at 1.25x or 1.5x speed for efficient learning. Use YouTube's subtitle feature if available.
Study Guide
📝 How to Use These Lectures
- • Sequential viewing: Lectures build on each other - watch in order
- • Take notes: Write down key equations and physical principles
- • Work examples: Pause and try problems before seeing solutions
- • Practice problems: Use textbook problems to reinforce concepts
- • Review: Revisit earlier lectures as needed for later topics
🔑 Key Concepts to Master
Fluid Statics
- - Pressure variation: p = p₀ + ρgh
- - Force on surfaces: F = ∫ p dA
- - Buoyancy: FB = ρgVdisplaced
Conservation Laws
- - Continuity: ∇·(ρv) + ∂ρ/∂t = 0
- - Momentum: ρDv/Dt = -∇p + μ∇²v
- - Bernoulli: p + ½ρv² + ρgh = const
Pipe Flow
- - Reynolds number: Re = ρvD/μ
- - Friction factor from Moody diagram
- - Head loss: hL = f(L/D)(v²/2g)
Navier-Stokes
- - Viscous stress tensor
- - Boundary conditions (no-slip)
- - Laminar solution methods
After Completing This Course
With a solid foundation in fluid mechanics, you'll be prepared for:
→ Plasma Physics & MHD
Apply fluid mechanics to magnetohydrodynamics and two-fluid plasma theory
Advanced Fluid Dynamics
Compressible flow, boundary layers, turbulence, computational fluid dynamics
→ Statistical Mechanics
See Kardar lectures 7-11 for kinetic theory → Navier-Stokes derivation
Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Accretion disks, jets, stellar structure, cosmic flows