Water Properties- 7 Most Important Terms in Hydraulics Engineering

Properties of Liquid

• Density of Water

So, the mass per unit volume at a standard Temperature and Pressure is known as the Density of Liquid.

It is denoted by “rho”. 

• Specific Weight

So, The Weight per unit Volume, at Standard Temperature and Pressure, is known as the Specific Weight of Liquid. Denoted by “w” 

• Specific Gravity

It is the ratio of its Specific Weight to that of a  Standard Temperature.

• Compressibility

The variation in its Volume, with the variation in its Pressure, is known as the Compressibility of Water.

Hence Water is considered to be an incompressible liquid. 

• Surface Tension

It is the property, which enables it to resist Tensile Stress. It is due to Cohesion between the Molecules at the surface of a liquid.

Drops of rain sphere because the liquid surface has a tendency to reduce its surface as small as possible.

• Capillarity of Water

So, The Phenomenon of rising Water in a tube of smaller diameter is called the Capillary rise.

• Viscosity 

The property of Liquid that controls its rate of flow is known as “Viscosity of Water”.