Hydrodynamics is the study of how forces (pushes and pulls) affect liquids. Something, like a boat or submarine, may be in a liquid, like water. Liquids could also be moving through something like a pipe or hose, such as water or oil. Or they might be contained, like water behind a dam. In each case there are rules and laws for the behavior (actions, reactions) of the fluid or liquid. Engineers study and apply these rules and laws when they design boats, pipes, dams, or anything that uses a liquid.

The study of hydrodynamics is sometimes confused with aerodynamics, especially when people are designing boats. The behaviors, rules, and laws are very similar in both fields. That's why some design engineers call themselves aerodynamicists, even though they are working with liquids, rather than gases

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Last modified: Mon Jun 15 20:45:02 PDT 1998

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