Explain continuum concept of Fluid.

A continuous and homogeneous medium is called continuum. From the continuum view point, the overall properties and behaviour of fluids can be studied without regard for its atomic and molecular structure. A fluid behaves as if it were comprised of continuous matter that is infinitely divisible into smaller and smaller parts. This idea is called continuum assumption.

Thus, the fluid properties such as density, temperature, velocity and so on can be considered to be constant at any point and changes due to molecular motion may be ignored.

This assumption break down in case of rarefied gases, for which the mean free path of the molecules to the physical dimensions of the problem is larger.

A continuous and homogeneous medium is called continuum. From the continuum view point, the overall properties and behaviour of fluids can be studied without regard for its atomic and molecular structure. A fluid behaves as if it were comprised of continuous matter that is infinitely divisible into smaller and smaller parts. This idea is called continuum assumption.

Thus, the fluid properties such as density, temperature, velocity and so on can be considered to be constant at any point and changes due to molecular motion may be ignored.

This assumption break down in case of rarefied gases, for which the mean free path of the molecules to the physical dimensions of the problem is larger.