Project 2: Discharge of a Water Tank

Brief Overview
The principles of fluid mechanics can be applied to the simple physical system of a
cylindrical column draining under gravity through a circular hole in the column to predict the
time required to drain a given length of column. Choosing and application of appropriate
energy equation (i.e. Bernoulli equation) and making assumptions about the various terms in
this equation can usually simplify the analysis of fluid flow problems.
The apparatus chosen in this experiment should be essentially a recreation of Torricellis
experiment and allows for the direct comparison of the predictions of the analysis to the
observed results for different configurations, and for different values of the important
physical parameters. The experimental setup consists essentially of a transparent cylindrical
column having circular hole made at the bottom of the column. This will be a good
opportunity for a student who can use experimental results and associated lectures in Fluid
Mechanics to consolidate his understanding of steady/Unsteady flows.

Task
1. To measure and to compare experimentally and theoretically obtained drainage times
of water through a hole (say 1 inch or two inch) at a given length from the bottom of
the column.
If possible may include following,
2.

To observe experimentally the effect of level of water in the column on the water flow
leaving the column through the hole.