Cavitation is the phenomenon of the formation and collapse of vapor bubbles in a fluid. The characteristic fluid property involved in this process is the vapor pressure.

Explanation:

• Cavitation is a physical phenomenon that occurs when the pressure of a fluid drops below its vapor pressure, causing the formation of vapor bubbles or cavities in the fluid.

• The vapor pressure of a liquid is the pressure at which its vapor phase is in equilibrium with its liquid phase at a given temperature.

• When the pressure in a fluid drops below its vapor pressure, the liquid undergoes a phase change and forms vapor bubbles. These bubbles then travel with the fluid to regions of higher pressure where they collapse.

• The collapse of these bubbles generates high-energy shock waves that can damage the surfaces of nearby objects, such as propellers, turbines, or pumps.

• The vapor pressure of a fluid depends on its temperature, and it increases with increasing temperature. Therefore, cavitation is more likely to occur at higher temperatures.

• The susceptibility of a fluid to cavitation depends on its physical properties, such as its viscosity and bulk modulus of elasticity, as well as the geometry of the system in which it flows.

• However, the most important fluid property involved in cavitation is the vapor pressure, as it determines the pressure at which vapor bubbles form and collapse.

• To prevent cavitation, it is important to maintain the pressure in the fluid above its vapor pressure and to ensure that the fluid is not subjected to sudden pressure drops or rapid changes in velocity.

In conclusion, the characteristic fluid property involved in the phenomenon of cavitation is the vapor pressure of the fluid.