Unit 8: Fluids
Physics 1 · Unit 8 · Paper 3

Fluids unit test

A test on this unit alone, marked as a percentage and a letter grade — for the test your class is actually sitting, rather than for May. Answer everything, then submit once: seeing the answer to question 3 before attempting question 4 makes the final percentage meaningless.

Each paper is built from this unit’s 45 terms and is the same for everyone, so a teacher can assign “Unit 8, Paper 3” and every student sits the identical test. Multiple choice is marked objectively; the written sections you mark yourself against the model answer and rubric.
Suggested time 35 min 32 points0/17 attempted
1

Why faster flow means lower pressure

2

Assumptions in Bernoulli's equation

3

Bernoulli's terms are energies per unit volume

4

Fraction submerged

5

Density of water

6

Why a steel ship floats

7

Applying Bernoulli and continuity together

8

Density

9

Gauge vs absolute pressure

10

A pascal is a newton per square meter

11

Volume flow rate

12

Ideal fluid

Short answer 1. Define or explain: Torricelli's result

3 pts

Short answer 2. Define or explain: Buoyancy is a pressure difference

3 pts

Short answer 3. Define or explain: Bernoulli's equation

3 pts

Short answer 4. Define or explain: Floating condition

3 pts

Free response

8 pts

Two solid spheres have the same volume V but different masses, with m₁ < m₂. Both are held completely submerged at the same depth in a tank of water of density ρ and then released from rest. All frictional and drag forces are negligible.

A. Indicate whether the magnitude of the buoyant force exerted on sphere 1 is greater than, less than, or equal to that exerted on sphere 2. Justify your answer in terms of the forces exerted on each sphere, using qualitative reasoning beyond referencing equations.

B. Starting with Newton’s second law, derive an expression for the magnitude of the initial acceleration of a sphere of mass m and volume V released from rest while fully submerged in a fluid of density ρ. Express your answer in terms of m, V, ρ and physical constants.

C. Indicate whether the initial acceleration of sphere 1 is greater than, less than, or equal to that of sphere 2, and justify how your answer is consistent with the expression you derived in part B.