MEEG331-011 Fluid Mechanics I

Fall 2025

Instructor

Ajay K. Prasad
Office: ISE Lab 376

prasad@udel.edu

 


 

Lecture: MEEG331-011

Classroom

Brown Lab 206

Class Time

TuTh 3:55 – 5:15 PM

 

 

Discussion:

Section

Day

Time

Room

TA

030D

Friday

1:50 – 2:45 PM

ISE Lab 205

Linaris, Nash

031D

Friday

3:35 – 4:25 PM

ISE Lab 207

Linaris, Nash


Instructor and TAs:

 

Name

Office

Office Hours

Instructor

Prof. Ajay K. Prasad
prasad@udel.edu

ISE Lab 376

MW 10:00-11:00 am

Graduate TAs (Homework Grading and Office Hours)

Farha Firoz farhaf@udel.edu

Spencer Lab 022C

MTu 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Asim Feroz
rajaasim@udel.edu

Spencer Lab 022F

TuTh 10:00 – 11:00 am

Undergraduate TAs (Running Discussion Sections)

Thomas Linaris
tlinaris@udel.edu

Spencer Lab 131

MW 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Alexander J. Nash
ajnash@udel.edu

Spencer Lab 131

MW 1:00 – 2:00 pm

 


Textbook

“Fluid Mechanics,” 3rd Edition, by R.C. Hibbeler

 

·         ISBN 9780137839292 (hardcover)

·         ISBN 0137839294 (hardcover)

·         ISBN 9780137839421 (ebook) à Available in the UD Bookstore

 

An Excellent (and Beautiful) Reference!

“An Album of Fluid Motion” by Milton Van Dyke

Movies

Fluid mechanics movies can be viewed online to enhance your understanding. Consult Canvas under “Files” for a list.

 


Learning Assessment

Homework*

Weekly

10%

Posted on Canvas under “Assignments”

Discussion Problem*

Weekly

10%

Solved and collected during discussion hour

Midterm 1

October 2 (in class)

20%

 

Midterm 2

November 6 (in class)

20%

 

Final Exam

December 13 (Saturday)
2:00 - 4:00 pm

40%

 

 

*Two lowest scores will be dropped for Homeworks and Discussion Problems.

 

*Students may work collaboratively on Homework and Discussion Problems, but each student will be responsible for his/her own submission.

 

Note: Midterms and Final Exam are closed book/closed notes. However, an Equation Sheet will be provided with the exam. The equation sheet is posted on Canvas under “Files”.

 


 

Syllabus and Schedule

Fluid Mechanics, 3rd Edition, R.C. HIBBELER

 

Dates

Chapter

Topics

8/26 to 9/4

Chapter 1
“Fundamental Concepts”
(4 lectures)

Definition of a fluid, continuum; dimensions and units; solution methodologies; properties of fluids: viscosity, surface tension.

9/9 to 9/18

Chapter 2
“Fluid Statics”
(4 lectures)

Absolute and gage pressure; Pascal's law; pressure variation in a static fluid; manometry; pressure force on submerged surfaces; buoyancy and stability.

10/2

Mid-Term 1

In class

9/23 to 9/25

Chapter 3
“Kinematics of Fluid Motion”
(2 lectures)

Streamlines, streaklines, pathlines, timelines; Lagrangian vs. Eulerian approach; control volume vs. differential approach; Eulerian derivative; streamline coordinates.

9/30 to 10/9

Chapter 4
“Flow and Conservation of Mass”
(3 lectures)

Volumetric flow, mass flow, average velocity; flow directionality and dimensionality; laminar and turbulent flow; Reynolds transport theorem; conservation of mass.

10/14 to 10/21

Chapter 5
“Work and Energy”
(3 lectures)

Euler’s equations of motion; conservation of energy; Bernoulli Equation.

11/6

Mid-Term 2

In class

10/23 to 11/11

Chapter 6
“Fluid Momentum”
(5 lectures)

Linear momentum equation; angular momentum equation; propellers and wind turbines; rockets.

11/24 to 11/28

Thanksgiving Break

 

11/13 to 12/9

Chapter 7
“Differential Fluid Flow”
(6 lectures)

Kinematics of differential fluid elements; circulation and vorticity; differential equations for mass conservation; Euler and Bernoulli Equations; stream function and potential function; Navier-Stokes Equations.

12/13
(Saturday)

Final Exam

2:00 - 4:00 pm

 

Note: Prof. Prasad is traveling to conferences on 9/24, 10/14, and 10/16. These three lectures will be prerecorded and released to students to watch asynchronously.

 


 

Assignments/Resources

 

o    See Canvas under “Assignments”

o    See Canvas under “Files”


Course Policies

Lecture Delivery Method:

Lectures will be conducted exclusively using the chalkboard. I will not use PowerPoint. I may occasionally use the internet to show images or short videos to enhance your understanding.

Note: Lectures will not be recorded, nor will lecture notes be posted. Students MUST attend class in order to generate a good set of lecture notes. If you are forced to miss a lecture for any reason, please obtain the lecture notes from a trusted classmate.

 

Attendance:

·         Lectures: Attendance will not be enforced in the lectures. However, attendance will greatly help you do well in the course. There is simply no substitute to the understanding of the material you will gain by attending class. In addition, the only way to obtain a good set of lecture notes is by attending class.

·         Discussion: Attendance is mandatory for the Discussion sections. Attendance will be marked by collecting your discussion problem solutions. As stated earlier, your two lowest Homework and Discussion scores will be dropped.

 

Cellphone Use in Class:

This is strongly discouraged! My heartfelt advice is that you put away your cellphone while in class and give me your undivided attention. Fluid Mechanics is not an easy subject, and it will require your full engagement to do well in the course. Loss of attention for even a minute or two can cause a domino effect where you might lose the entire train of thought, and this will be hard to makeup by self-study.

 

Use of Solution Manual or AI tools to solve Homework/Discussion Problems:

This is highly discouraged. It may be tempting to use shortcuts for solving Homework and Discussion problems. However, this is almost certain to cause difficulties during the Exams. There is no substitute for hard work. The hours you spend analyzing and solving the problems by yourself will pay off greatly during the Exams. I encourage you to use the Equation Sheet for solving Homework and Discussion problems, because that is exactly how you will tackle the problems during the Exams.

 

Student Wellbeing:

College students often experience things that may interfere with academic success such as stress, physical illness, sleep problems, juggling responsibilities, life events, relationship concerns, or feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, or depression. If you are experiencing any of the above in a way that is negatively impacting your ability to participate fully in the learning activities for this class, I strongly encourage you to get in touch with me. Additionally, I have provided information below from Student Wellbeing about campus health resources.

o    Student Wellbeing offers confidential mental health services. Services include walk-in urgent visits, scheduled individual and group counseling, psychiatry, off-campus referral coordination, and consultation for students, parents, and faculty. By caring for your mental health, you can be more successful in your academic, personal, and career pursuits. Student Wellbeing is here to help!  

o    Most of the services Student Wellbeing provides are covered by mandatory fees included in tuition and come at no additional cost to eligible students. To learn more about what’s covered by mandatory fees versus what's covered by insurance, visit the Student Wellbeing website.  

o    24/7 Resources 

For a comprehensive listing of wellbeing resources, activities, and services available to all students, take time to explore the Student Life’s Wellbeing webpage.

 

Academic Honesty:

Please familiarize yourself with UD policies regarding academic dishonesty. The Academic Honesty Policy states: “Students must be honest and forthright in their academic studies. Students are expected to do their own work and must give proper credit for any work not their own. Students may neither give nor receive unauthorized assistance.  Engaging in academic dishonesty, or allowing other students to do the same, corrupts the educational process and diminishes the quality of a University of Delaware degree.” View the university's procedures for resolving academic dishonesty concerns. Contact Community Standards & Conflict Resolution at communitystandards@udel.edu or (302) 831-2117.

 

Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct:

The University of Delaware works to promote an academic and work environment that is free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment and sexual misconduct. As a member of the community, your rights, resources and responsibilities are reflected in the Non-Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, and Title IX policy.  Please familiarize yourself with this policy at the University’s Office of Equity & Inclusion’s website. You can report any concerns to the University’s Office of Equity & Inclusion (302) 831-8063 or at kbuchko@udel.edu.  You can report anonymously through UD Police (302) 831-2222 or the EthicsPoint Compliance Hotline.

 

Responsible Employee Disclosure Statement:

As a University employee, I must report any alleged violation of the Non-Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Policy. This means that if I become aware of any instance in which a member of our campus community, including students, may have experienced sexual misconduct—including sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship violence (domestic or dating violence), or stalking — or any form of discrimination as outlined in the Policy, I am required to report the matter to the University’s Title IX Coordinator.

Once a report is made, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out to the affected party to provide information about their rights and options, available support resources, and how the University may respond to the report. The goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of both the individual and the broader campus community.

If such information is shared with me — whether during class, in a written assignment, or in a one-on-one conversation — I will respect your privacy. I will share the information only with the Title IX Coordinator.

For more information about the University’s Non-Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Policy, support services, and reporting procedures, please visit www.udel.edu/sexualmisconduct. You may also contact the Title IX Coordinator directly at kbuchko@udel.edu.

The University offers the following confidential resources:

  1. TimelyCare provides 24/7 mental health support via telehealth for confidential crisis and victim support for survivors of all forms of sexual misconduct. Students can receive eight (8) free scheduled telehealth counseling sessions per year with a therapist of their choosing.  Students can register for TimelyCare at https://www.udel.edu/students/health-wellbeing/counseling-center-services/timelycare/.
  2. If you need immediate counseling assistance after hours, TimelyCare: TalkNow offers unlimited free emergency virtual sessions within five (5) minutes of logging on.  Available 24/7, TalkNow provides on-demand emotional support to talk about anything, including anxiety, relationships, depression and school-related issues. TalkNow can be accessed at https://www.udel.edu/students/health-wellbeing/counseling-center-services/timelycare/.
  3. Student Wellness & Health Promotion offers one-on-one appointments with a professional victim advocate or a dating violence counselor. The Victim Advocate is available for all UD students facing traumatic situations, including sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, sexual harassment, and stalking.  The Victim Advocate also provides information on resources including professional advocacy, support groups and 24/7 crisis assistance. To contact the Victim Advocate, email victimsupport@udel.edu, use this link to schedule an appointment: Book an Appointment with me or visit https://www.udel.edu/students/support/victim-support-services/ for more information.
  4. The Center for Counseling & Student Development Services provides individual and group counseling. The Counseling Center also offers walk-in hours Monday-Friday between 9:30am-4pm that are based on a first-come, first-served basis.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

Any student who may need disability-related accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) office as soon as possible. For more information, please visit Getting Registered at DSS. Contact DSS by phone: 302-831-4643; fax: 302-831-3261; website: www.udel.edu/dss; email: dssoffice@udel.edu; or visit 240 Academy Street, Alison Hall Suite 130 during business hours (8-5 M-F). 

 

Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity:

The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment, educational programs and activities, admissions, and scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual violence.

For inquiries or complaints related to non-discrimination policies, please contact: Office of Equity & Inclusion- oei@udel.edu, (302) 831-8063.

For complaints related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact: Office of Disability Support Services, dssoffice@udel.edu, Alison Hall, Suite 130, Newark, DE 19716 (302) 831-4643 OR contact the U.S. Department of Education - Office for Civil Rights.