Water at Rest and in Motion

Abstract

This chapter has been divided into two main parts: hydrostatics and hydrodynamics. Hydrostatics is the study of water (hydro) at rest (static), and includes the investigation of distribution of pressure within the water body and buoyancy forces. Although both pressure and buoyancy are acting no matter whether water is at rest or in motion, it is useful to explain them first for the simpler case of water at rest. Hydrodynamics is the study of water in motion. As there are many types of water motion in the ocean, it is not possible to discuss them all in one chapter. However, some properties of the sea water motion are common and can be discussed independently of specific types of water motion. This is particularly true for such properties as steady and unsteady flow, rotational and irrotational motion, and laminar and turbulent flow. The basis of all these types of sea water motion is covered in this chapter. The following chapters are devoted to particular types of motions, such as surface waves, tides, currents and internal waves.