On the Physics of Fluids
Raymond J. Seeger · American Journal of Physics · 1959
In connection with the concept of the “physics of fluids” as part of a broad, interdisciplinary field, the historical development of the concept of the fluid itself is outlined. The three major fields are hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, and aerodynamics. The use of the fluid concept in physics generally is mentioned. The paper concludes with modern fluids, i.e., the understanding of real fluids under the major headings of (1) ordinary fluids, involving stability, anomalous viscosity, and free surfaces; (2) fluids under unusual conditions, such as high-speed, high-temperature, low-density, and quantum fluids; (3) large-scale phenomena involving fluids, those that are local in character, such as planetary atmosphere, and those that are cosmic, such as magnetohydrodynamics. Attention is called to the use of high-speed computing machines and the understanding of real fluids.