An interactive textbook that uses the power of the personal computer to teach introductory fluid mechanics has been developed by the authors. This mode of presentation integrates hypertext navigational and search features, the presentation of videos and animations to illustrate phenomena and concepts, and computation to allow the presentation of results for a variety of parameter values and the solution of nonlinear problems without the tedium of table look-up or iteration on the part of the student. The authors' experience using an early version of the book to teach junior-level students in mechanical engineering and in civil and environmental engineering indicates that the students appreciate the increased understanding that comes with dynamic figures, the easy access to data, the ability to locate quickly definitions and specific material, and, most of all, the computational facilities.
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