What is a smart fluid?

Fluid mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the mechanics of fluids and the forces acting upon them. Fluids can behave in different ways, such as Newtonian fluids where viscous stresses are linearly correlated to the local strain rate. Non-Newtonian fluids include examples like oobleck, which becomes stiffer when vigorously sheared, and non-drip paint, which becomes thinner when sheared.

What we know

• Fluid mechanics is a branch of physics concerned with liquids, gases, and plasmas and the forces on them. [1, 2]
• A Newtonian fluid has viscous stresses that are linearly correlated to the local strain rate at every point. [3]
• Non-Newtonian fluids include oobleck, which becomes stiffer when vigorously sheared. [3]
• Non-drip paint is an example of a non-Newtonian fluid that becomes thinner when sheared. [3]

Where to go next

• how it workedHow do fluids behave under different forces?
• a case in pointWhat are non-Newtonian fluids?
• the bigger pictureWhat is continuum mechanics?
• how we knowHow does Pascal's law describe fluid pressure?
• whoWho was Isaac Newton's contribution to fluid mechanics?
• an unexpected connectionCan plants exhibit forms of intelligence?While fluid mechanics studies physical forces on liquids without atomic awareness, intelligence research explores adaptive behaviors across animals and controversially even plants.

Sources

• [1]fluid mechanics (Wikidata Q172145) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Fluid mechanics · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Newtonian fluid · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Intelligence · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Pascal's law · CC BY-SA 4.0