Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Fluid Mechanics (Face-to-Face)

ME 3300-01

Course: ME 3300-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: ET
CRN: 10873

Course Description

Fundamental principles of fluid mechanics. Properties of fluids. Fluid statics. Control volume and transport theorem. Continuity and motion equations. Inviscid and viscous flows. Laminar and turbulent flows. Incompressible and compressible flows. Internal, external, and free surface flows. Bernoulli’s equation. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): ME 3305 Prerequisite(s): MATH 1220 and PHYS 2210 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D-

Required Texts

Applied Fluid Mechanics by Mott & Untener, 7th Edition

Learning Outcomes

the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Determine fluid properties and classify flow using dimensionless parameters.

  2. Solve hydrostatics problems including forces on surfaces and buoyancy.

  3. Apply continuity, momentum, and energy equations to engineering flow systems.

  4. Compute major and minor losses in pipe networks and analyze series/parallel systems.

  5. Analyze pump performance, operating point, and cavitation risk (NPSH).

  6. Apply flow measurement principles and interpret measurement limitations.

  7. Design or evaluate fluid systems to meet specified performance constraints.

  8. Communicate solutions using professional engineering format and reasoning.

Course Requirements

1) Course Format
This course consists of:
  • Lecture (3 credits): Core theory and engineering applications of fluid mechanics

  • Separate lab (typically 1 credit): Experimental measurement methods and data analysis supporting lecture topics

Although the lab is a separate course, lab activities reinforce lecture concepts and may be referenced in lecture assignments and assessments.

2) Prerequisites / Required Preparation
Students are expected to have successfully completed:
Required
  • Calculus I & II
  • Physics I (Mechanics / Engineering Physics)
  • Statics
Strongly Recommended
  • Differential Equations
  • Thermodynamics I (helpful for energy equation, pumps, and applications)

Students should be able to:
  • Perform algebraic manipulation and solve systems of equation's
  • Use logarithms/exponentials
  • Work with vectors and free-body diagrams
  • Maintain consistent units (SI and English)

3) Course Work Requirements
Homework Assignments
Students must complete weekly (or most weeks) homework assignments that emphasize:
  • conceptual understanding (definitions, interpretation),
  • quantitative problem solving (devices, losses, pipe networks),
  • engineering judgment and reasonableness checks.

Homework submissions must include:
  • clearly stated given/required
  • diagram(s) and control volume/system definitions,
  • assumptions and model selection,
  • governing equations,
  • substitution with units shown,
  • final results with correct units + reasonableness check.

Quizzes / In-Class Assessments (Optional but common)
Short quizzes or in-class exercises may be used to reinforce class concepts.

Tests: 4 Exams + Final

Expected Time Commitment
A 3-credit lecture course typically requires:
  • 3 hours/week in class
  • 6–9 hours/week outside class for reading, homework, and exam preparation
(Separate lab time and report time are additional.)


Professional Standards for Problem Solving
All graded work is expected to meet professional engineering standards:
  • correct units and dimensional consistency,
  • clear diagrams and flow direction assumptions,
  • proper use of charts/correlations (Moody chart, loss coefficients),
  • correct interpretation of head/pressure/velocity terms,
  • reasonableness checks and physical interpretation.

Students must comply with university academic integrity policies.
  • collaboration may be allowed for discussion,
  • submitted work must be original,
  • copying from solution manuals or unauthorized sources is prohibited.



Course Outline

Topic 1
  • Course overview; safety and engineering professionalism
  • Units, dimensions, dimensional analysis (intro)
  • Fluid properties: density, viscosity, vapor pressure, surface tension
  • Newtonian vs non-Newtonian fluids; basic flow classification

Topic 2:
  • Pressure variation with depth; absolute vs gauge pressure
  • Hydrostatic equation
  • Manometers and pressure measurement
  • Pressure forces in static fluids (intro)

Topic 3: 
  • Hydrostatic force on plane surfaces (resultant force + center of pressure)
  • Curved surfaces (resultant components)
  • Buoyancy, stability of floating bodies

Topic 4: 
  • Describing flow: steady/unsteady, uniform/nonuniform
  • Streamlines and flow rate concepts
  • Continuity equation for incompressible flow
  • Average vs local velocity; mass flow rate

Topic 5: 
  • Describing flow: steady/unsteady, uniform/nonuniform
  • Streamlines and flow rate concepts
  • Continuity equation for incompressible flow
  • Average vs local velocity; mass flow rate

Topic 6:
  • Describing flow: steady/unsteady, uniform/nonuniform
  • Streamlines and flow rate concepts
  • Continuity equation for incompressible flow
  • Average vs local velocity; mass flow rate

Topic 7:
  • Describing flow: steady/unsteady, uniform/nonuniform
  • Streamlines and flow rate concepts
  • Continuity equation for incompressible flow
  • Average vs local velocity; mass flow rate

Topic 8:
  • Pipes in series and parallel
  • Equivalent length method
  • Solving pipe networks (intro methods)
  • System head requirements and design thinking

Topic 9:
  • Pump head and power
  • Pump efficiency; operating point concept
  • Pump curves and system curves
  • Series/parallel pump operation

Topic 10:
  • Cavitation physics and consequences
  • Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH available vs required)
  • Pump selection and operating constraints
  • Practical design considerations for systems

Topic 11:
  • Venturi meter, orifice meter, flow nozzle
  • Pitot-static tube
  • Rotameter (variable area meter)
  • Calibration and measurement limitations (intro uncertainty)

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

NO LATE HOME WORK
NO AI WORK, you can use AI for research, but not to turn in your work. If you use AI to do your work for you, you will receive a 0 and be turned in for cheating.

Communicate with your professor.

NO MAKE UP EXAMS UNLESS IT IS AN EXTREME EMERGENCY. 

Attendance Policy

Attendance is expected. You are responsible for the course material.
If you miss more than 6 classes periods you will automatically fail.

Please communicate with your professor if you have any emergencies or need to miss class.

Course Fees

N/A

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.