Physical Hydrodynamics

Book excerpt: This second edition of Physical Hydrodynamics is a deeply enriched version of a classical textbook on fluid dynamics. It retains the same pedagogical spirit, based on the authors' experience of teaching university students in the physical sciences, and emphasizes an experimental (inductive) approach rather than the more formal approach found in many textbooks in the field. A new edition was necessary as contact between the mechanics and physics approaches and their communities has increased continuously over the last few decades. Today the field is more widely open to other experimental sciences: materials, environmental, life, and earth sciences, as well as the engineering sciences. Representative examples from these fields have been included where possible, while retaining a general presentation in each case. This book should be useful for researchers and engineers in these various fields. Images have an essential place in fluid mechanics, and the illustrations in this edition have been completely revisited and widely improved. An inset of colour photographs is provided to stimulate the interest of readers. Exercises have also been added at the end of a number of chapters.