Ideal liquids

Abstract

In Chapter 4 some of the properties of real liquids have been described. From the point of view of liquid flow, the two most important properties are that liquids are almost incompressible and that relative motion of liquid layers is opposed by viscous forces. The next stage is to try to formulate general equations to describe the motion of liquids. A description of the gross properties of liquids, in terms of large-scale parameters only, will be attempted, not a kinetic theory of liquid behaviour. Before attempting to set up these equations, it will be necessary to make a few general remarks about the properties of liquids.