NTU ESOE 2006 – Fluid Mechanics – 2023 Fall – Homework#2

SOLUTIONS

1. Consider a 8-m-long, 8-m-wide, and 2-m-high aboveground swimming pool that is filled
with water to the rim. (a) Determine the hydrostatic force on each wall and the distance
of the line of action of this force from the ground. (b) If the height of the walls of the pool
is doubled and the pool is filled, will the hydrostatic force on each wall double or
quadruple?

Assumptions: Atmospheric pressure acts on both sides of the wall of the pool, and thus
it can be ignored in calculations for convenience.

Properties: We take the density of water to be 1000 kg/m3 throughout.

Analysis: The average pressure on a surface is the pressure at the centroid (midpoint)
of the surface, and is determined to be

𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 𝑃𝑐 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑐 = 𝜌𝑔(ℎ/2)

1𝑁
= (1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚^3 )(9.81𝑚/𝑠^2 )(2/2𝑚)( )
1𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝑚/𝑠 2

= 9810𝑁/𝑚2

Then the resultant hydrostatic force on each wall becomes

9810𝑁
𝐹𝑅 = 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑔 𝐴 = ( ) (8𝑚 × 2𝑚) = 156960𝑁 = 𝟏𝟓𝟕𝒌𝑵
𝑚2
The line of action of the force passes through the pressure center, which is 2h/3 from the
free surface and h/3 from the bottom of the pool. Therefore, the distance of the line of
action from the ground is
ℎ 2
𝑦𝑃 = = = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟕𝒎 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚)
3 3
If the height of the walls of the pool is doubled, the hydrostatic force quadruples since

𝐹𝑅 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑐 𝐴 = 𝜌𝑔(ℎ/2)(ℎ × 𝑤) = 𝜌𝑔𝑤ℎ2 /2

and thus the hydrostatic force is proportional to the square of the wall height, h2.

2. Consider a heavy car submerged in water in a lake with a flat bottom. The driver’s side
door of the car is 1.1 m high and 0.9 m wide, and the top edge of the door is 10 m below
the water surface. Determine the net force acting on the door (normal to its surface) and
the location of the pressure center if (a) the car is well-sealed and it contains air at
atmospheric pressure and (b) the car is filled with water.

Assumptions :
 1 The bottom surface of the lake is horizontal.
2 The door can be approximated as a vertical rectangular plate.
3 The pressure in the car remains at atmospheric value since there is no water leaking in,
and thus no compression of the air inside. Therefore, we can ignore the atmospheric
pressure in calculations since it acts on both sides of the door.

Properties: We take the density of lake water to be 1000 kg/m3 throughout.

Analysis:
(a) When the car is well-sealed and thus the pressure inside the car is the atmospheric
pressure, the average pressure on the outer surface of the door is the pressure at the
centroid (midpoint) of the surface, and is determined to be

𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 = 𝑃𝑐 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑐 = 𝜌𝑔(𝑠 + 𝑏/2)

1𝑘𝑁
= (1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 )(9.81𝑚/𝑠 2 )(10 + 1.1/2𝑚)( )
1000𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝑚/𝑠 2
= 103.5𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
Then the resultant hydrostatic force on the door becomes

𝐹𝑅 = 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝐴 = (1035𝑘𝑁/𝑚2 )(0.9𝑚 × 1.1𝑚) = 𝟏𝟎𝟐. 𝟓𝒌𝑵

The pressure center is directly under the midpoint of the plate, and its distance
from the surface of the lake is determined to be

𝑏 𝑏2 1.1 1.12
𝑦𝑝 = 𝑠 + + = 10 + ++ = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟓𝟔𝒎
2 12(𝑠 + 𝑏/2) 2 12(10 + 1.1/2)

(b) When the car is filled with water, the net force normal to the surface of the door is zero
since the pressure on both sides of the door will be the same.

3. A room in the lower level of a cruise ship has a 40-cm-diameter circular window. If the
midpoint of the window is 2 m below the water surface, determine the hydrostatic force
acting on the window, and the pressure center. Take the specific gravity of seawater to
be 1.025.

Assumptions Atmospheric pressure acts on both sides of the window, and thus it can be
ignored in calculations for convenience.
Properties The specific gravity of sea water is given to be 1.025, and thus its density is
1025 kg/m3.
 Analysis The average pressure on a surface is the pressure at the centroid (midpoint) of
the surface, and is determined to be

𝑘𝑔 𝑚 1𝑁 2
Pave = 𝑃𝑐 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑐 = (1025 3
) (9.81 2 ) (2 𝑚) ( 𝑚 ) = 20,111 𝑁/𝑚
𝑚 𝑠 1 𝑘𝑔 ∙ 2
𝑠
Then the resultant hydrostatic force on each wall becomes
𝜋𝐷 2 𝑁 𝜋(0.4 𝑚)2
FR = 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝐴 = 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 [ ] = (20,111 2 ) [ ] = 𝟐𝟓𝟐𝟕 𝑵
4 𝑚 4
The line of action of the force passes through the pressure center, whose vertical distance
from the free surface is determined from
𝐼𝑥𝑥,𝑐 𝜋𝑅 4 /4 𝑅2 (0.2 m)2
yp = 𝑦𝑐 + = yc + = yc + = 2 𝑚 + = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝒎
𝑦𝑐 𝐴 𝑦𝑐 𝜋𝑅 2 4𝑦𝑐 4(2𝑚)
Discussion For small surfaces deep in a liquid, the pressure center nearly coincides with
the centroid of the surface. Here, in fact, to three significant digits in the final answer, the
center of pressure and centroid are coincident. We give the answer to four significant digits
to show that the center of pressure and the centroid are not coincident

4. A 6-m-high, 5-m-wide rectangular plate blocks the end of a 5-m-deep freshwater

channel, as shown below. The plate is hinged about a horizontal axis along its upper
edge through a point A and is restrained from opening by a fixed ridge at point B.
Determine the force exerted on the plate by the ridge.

Assumptions Atmospheric pressure acts on both sides of the plate, and thus it can be
ignored in calculations for convenience.
Properties We take the density of water to be 1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 throughout.
Analysis The average pressure on a surface is the pressure at the centroid (midpoint)
of the surface, and is determined to be
ℎ
𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 = 𝑃𝑐 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑐 = 𝜌𝑔 ( )
2
1000𝑘𝑔 9.81𝑚 5 1𝑘𝑁 24.53𝑘𝑁
=( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) =
𝑚3 𝑠2 2𝑚 1000𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝑚 𝑚2
𝑠2
Then the resultant hydrostatic force on each wall becomes
 24.53𝑘𝑁
𝐹𝑅 = 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝐴 = ( ) (5𝑚 × 5𝑚) = 613.1𝑘𝑁
𝑚2
The line of action of the force passes through the pressure center, which is 2h/3 from
the free surface,
2ℎ 2 × (5𝑚)
𝑦𝑝 = = = 3.333𝑚
3 3
Taking the moment about point A and setting it equal to zero gives

∑ 𝑀𝐴 = 0 → 𝐹𝑅 (𝑠 + 𝑦𝑝 ) = 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑔𝑒 ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵
Solving for 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑔𝑒 and substituting, the reaction force is determined to be
𝑠 + 𝑦𝑝 (1 + 3.333)𝑚
𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑔𝑒 = 𝐹𝑅 = (613.1𝑘𝑁) = 𝟒𝟒𝟑𝒌𝑵
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 6𝑚
Discussion The difference between 𝐹𝑅 and 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑔𝑒 is the force acting on the hinge at
point A.

5. The curved surface given in the figure is defined by y = 3√𝑥. Determine the horizontal
force and its line of action applied by water on the curved surface. The width of the gate
is b = 2 m.

Assumptions Atmospheric pressure acts on both sides of the surface, and thus it can be
ignored in calculations for convenience.
Properties We take the density of water to be 1000 kg/m3 throughout.
Analysis For a curved surface the horizontal component of the hydrostatic force is given
by
dFH = 𝜌𝑑𝐴𝑦 , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝐴𝑦 = 𝑏𝑑𝑦
𝑦2 𝑦2 𝑦2
FH = ∫ 𝑝𝑏𝑑𝑦 = ∫ (𝛾ℎ)𝑏𝑑𝑦 = 𝑏𝛾 ∫ ℎ𝑑𝑦
𝑦1 𝑦1 𝑦1
It is clear that h + y = 5 m , and we may write h = 5 − y . Therefore Eq.2 would take the
form of
kg 𝑚 𝑘𝑔
γ = ρg = (1000 3 ) (9.81 2 ) = 9810 2 2
m 𝑠 𝑚 ∙𝑠
𝑦2 𝑦2 =5
1 2 5 25
FH = 𝑏𝛾 ∫ (5 − 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 2 × 9810 ∫ (5𝑦 − 𝑦 ) | = 2 × 9810 × = 𝟐𝟒𝟓, 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐍
𝑦1 𝑦1 =0 2 0 2
= 𝟐𝟒𝟓. 𝟐𝟓𝐤𝐍
 Since the moment generated by FH about hinge must be equal to the sum of the
moments generated by dFH about the same point, we can write

5 1 5 125
FH ∙ yc = 2 × 9810 ( 𝑦 2 − 𝑦 3 ) | = 2 × 9810 × = 408,745 N
2 3 0 6
408,745
Therefore, yc = = 1.666 𝑚 ≅ 𝟏. 𝟔𝟕 𝐦
245,250

Alternative solution: FH be determined by considering the projected are of the curved

surface (see figure above). Since the projected surface is rectangular shaped, we may
write

5
FH = 𝛾ℎ𝑐𝑔 𝐴𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 = 9810 × (5 × 2) = 𝟐𝟒𝟓, 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝑵
2
1
yc = × 5 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟔𝟔 𝒎
3
It is clear that FH does not depend on what actually curved surface area is, since the
projected area depends on only fluid depth.

6. A 4-m-long quarter-circular gate of radius 3 m and of negligible weight is hinged about its
upper edge A, as shown below. The gate controls the flow of water over the ledge at B,
where the gate is pressed by a spring. Determine the minimum spring force required to
keep the gate closed when the water level rises to A at the upper edge of the gate.

Assumptions 1 The hinge is frictionless. 2 Atmospheric pressure acts on both sides of

the gate, and thus it can be ignored in calculations for convenience. 3 The weight of the
gate is negligible.
Properties We take the density of water to be 1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 throughout.
Analysis We consider the free body diagram of the liquid block enclosed by the circular
surface of the gate and its vertical and horizontal projections. The hydrostatic forces
acting on the vertical and horizontal plane surfaces as well as the weight of the liquid
block are determined as follows:
Horizontal force on vertical surface:
𝑅
𝐹𝐻 = 𝐹𝑥 = 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝐴 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑐 𝐴 = 𝜌𝑔 ( ) 𝐴
2
1000𝑘𝑔 9.81𝑚 3 1𝑘𝑁
=( 3
) ( 2 ) ( ) (4𝑚 × 3𝑚) ( 𝑚)
𝑚 𝑠 2𝑚 1000𝑘𝑔 ∙ 2
𝑠
= 176.6𝑘𝑁
Vertical force on horizontal surface (upward):
𝐹𝑦 = 𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝐴 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑐 𝐴 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝐴

1000𝑘𝑔 9.81𝑚 1𝑘𝑁

=( ) ( ) (3𝑚)(4𝑚 × 3𝑚) ( 𝑚)
𝑚3 𝑠2 1000𝑘𝑔 ∙ 2
𝑠
= 353.2𝑘𝑁
The weight of fluid block per 4-m length (downwards):

𝜋𝑅 2
𝑊 = 𝜌𝑔𝑉 = 𝜌𝑔 [𝑤 × ]
4
1000𝑘𝑔 9.81𝑚 (4𝑚)𝜋(3𝑚)2 1𝑘𝑁
=( 3
)( 2 )[ ]( 𝑚)
𝑚 𝑠 4 1000𝑘𝑔 ∙ 2
𝑠
= 277.4𝑘𝑁

Therefore, the net upward vertical force is

𝐹𝑉 = 𝐹𝑦 − 𝑊 = 353.2 − 277.4 = 75.8𝑘𝑁

Then the magnitude and direction of the hydrostatic force acting on the surface of the 4-
m long quarter-circular section of the gate become

𝐹𝑅 = √𝐹𝐻2 + 𝐹𝑉2 = √(176.6𝑘𝑁)2 + (75.8𝑘𝑁)2 = 192.2𝑘𝑁

𝐹𝑉 75.8𝑘𝑁
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = = = 0.429 → 𝜃 = 23.2°
𝐹𝐻 176.6𝑘𝑁

Therefore, the magnitude of the hydrostatic force acting on the gate is 192.2 kN, and its
line of action passes through the center of the quarter-circular gate making an angle
23.2° upwards from the horizontal.
The minimum spring force needed is determined by taking a moment about the point A
where the hinge is, and setting it equal to zero,
∑ 𝑀𝐴 = 0 → 𝐹𝑅 𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑛(90 − 𝜃) − 𝐹𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑅 = 0
Solving for 𝐹𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 and substituting, the spring force is determined to be
𝐹𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝐹𝑅 sin(90 − 𝜃) = (192.2𝑘𝑁)𝑠𝑖𝑛(90 − 23.2) = 𝟏𝟕𝟕𝒌𝑵
7. The hull of a boat has a volume of 180 m3, and the total mass of the boat when empty is
8560 kg. Determine how much load this boat can carry without sinking (a) in a lake and
(b) in seawater with a specific gravity of 1.03.
Assumptions 1 The dynamic effects of the waves are disregarded. 2 The buoyancy
force in air is negligible.
Properties The density of sea water is given to be 1.03×1000 = 1030 kg/𝑚3 . We take
the density of water to be 1000kg/𝑚3 .
Analysis The weight of the unloaded boat is
9.81𝑚 1𝑁
𝑊𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑡 = 𝑚𝑔 = (8560𝑘𝑔) ( 2
)( 𝑚 ) = 8.04𝑘𝑁
𝑚 1000𝑘𝑔 ∙ 2
𝑠
The buoyancy force becomes a maximum when the entire hull of the boat is submerged
in water, and is determined to be
1000𝑘𝑔 1𝑁
𝐹𝐵,𝑙𝑎𝑘𝑒 = 𝜌𝑙𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑔𝑉 = ( 3
) (9.81𝑚/𝑠 2 )(180𝑚3 )( ) = 1766𝑘𝑁
𝑚 1000𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝑚/𝑠 2

The total weight of a floating boat (load + boat itself) is equal to the buoyancy force.
Therefore, the weight of the maximum load is
𝑊𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑙𝑎𝑘𝑒 = 𝐹𝐵,𝑙𝑎𝑘𝑒 − 𝑊𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑡 = 1766 − 84 = 1682𝑘𝑁
𝑊𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑠𝑒𝑎 = 𝐹𝐵,𝑠𝑒𝑎 − 𝑊𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑡 = 1819 − 84 = 1735𝑘𝑁
The corresponding masses of load are
𝑚
𝑊𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑙𝑎𝑘𝑒 1682𝑘𝑁 1000𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝑠 2
𝑚𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑙𝑎𝑘𝑒 = = ( ) = 𝟏𝟕𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎𝒌𝒈
𝑔 9.81𝑚 1𝑘𝑁
𝑠2
𝑚
𝑊𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑠𝑒𝑎 1735𝑘𝑁 1000𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝑠 2
𝑚𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑,𝑠𝑒𝑎 = = ( ) = 𝟏𝟕𝟔𝟗𝟎𝟎𝒌𝒈
𝑔 9.81𝑚 1𝑘𝑁
𝑠2

8. The density of a liquid is to be determined by an old 1-cm-diameter cylindrical

hydrometer whose division marks are completely wiped out. The hydrometer is first
dropped in water, and the water level is marked. The hydrometer is then dropped into the
other liquid, and it is observed that the mark for water has risen 0.3 cm above the liquid–
air interface. If the height of the original water mark is 12.3 cm, determine the density of
the liquid.
 Properties We take the density of pure water to be 1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚3.
Analysis A hydrometer floating in water is in static equilibrium, and the buoyant force 𝐹𝐵
exerted by the liquid must always be equal to the weight W of the hydrometer,𝐹𝐵 = 𝑊.
𝐹𝐵 = 𝜌𝑔𝑉𝑠𝑢𝑏 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ𝐴𝑐
where h is the height of the submerged portion of the hydrometer and 𝐴𝑐 is the cross-
sectional area which is constant.

In pure water: 𝑊 = 𝜌𝑊 𝑔ℎ𝑤 𝐴𝑐

In the liquid: 𝑊 = 𝜌𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑔ℎ𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝐴𝑐

Setting the relations above equal to each other (since both equal the weight of the
hydrometer) gives
𝜌𝑤 𝑔ℎ𝑤 𝐴𝑐 = 𝜌𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑔ℎ𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝐴𝑐

Solving for the liquid density and substituting,

ℎ𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 12𝑐𝑚 1000𝑘𝑔

𝜌𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 = 𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = ( ) = 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟔𝒌𝒈/𝒎𝟑
ℎ𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 (12 − 0.3)𝑐𝑚 𝑚3

Discussion Note that for a given cylindrical hydrometer, the product of the fluid density
and the height of the submerged portion of the hydrometer is constant in any fluid.
9. A cone floats in the glycerin (SG = 1.26), as shown in the figure. Find the mass of the
cone.

Properties The specific gravity of glycerin is 1.26.

Analysis The buoyancy force must balance the weight of the cone, that is
𝜋
𝑊𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑒 = 𝑚𝑐 𝑔 = 𝑊𝑏 = 𝛾𝑔𝑙𝑦 ∀𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑒,𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 = 𝑆𝐺𝛾𝑤 (𝑅 2 𝐻 − 𝑟 2 ℎ)
3
𝑟 ℎ ℎ 𝑅
Since 𝑅
= 𝐻, 𝑟 = 𝐻 𝑅 = 3 , where 𝐻 = 0.6 + 0.3 = 0.90 𝑚
The buoyancy force is
𝜋 2 𝑅2 𝜋𝑅2 𝐻 1ℎ
𝑊𝑏 = 𝑆𝐺𝛾𝑤 (𝑅 𝐻 − ℎ) = 𝑆𝐺𝛾𝑤 (1 − )
3 9 3 9𝐻
Therefore the cone’s mass is then
2 ℎ
𝑊𝑏 𝑆𝐺𝜌𝑤 𝜋𝑅 𝐻(1 − 9𝐻 ) 1.26 × 1000 × 𝜋 × 0.90(1 − 1⁄27) × 𝑅 2
𝑚𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑒 = = =
𝑔 3 3
2
= 1143.5𝑅 𝑘𝑔