A Model Answer for

Problem Set #3
BOUYNCY, FLOATATION, AND
ACCELERATED FLUID MASSES

Problem No. (1)

A body is weighed twice while suspended in

two different fluids of specific gravities 0.85
and 1.6. If the balance readings 30 and 18
kg. Determine the density of the body.

1
Ws1 = Wa – FB1
30 * 9.81 = Wa – 0.85 * 9810 * V …(1) T1

Ws2 = Wa – FB2 0.85

18 * 9.81 = Wa – 1.6 * 9810 * V ….(2) W

FB1
From (1) & (2)
Wa = 427.716 N
T2

m = 43.6 kg 1.60

W
V = 0.016 m3 FB12

m 43.6
ρ= = = 2725 kg/ m3
V 0.016

= 2.725 t/ m3

Problem No. (2)

A cylinder of specific gravity 0.95 and length

80 cm floats with its axis vertical in a vessel
containing oil of specific gravity 0.84 and
water. If it is required that the cylinder
becomes totally immersed, what should be
the minimum depth of oil required to satisfy
this condition.

2
W = FB1 + FB2
A * 0.8 * 0.95 = A * L * 0.84 + A * (0.8 – L) * 1
0.76 = 0.8 – 0.16 L
L = 0.25 m
The minimum depth of oil to satisfy the condition
=
0.25 m
L
Oil
0.80 m

0.8 - L

Water

Problem No. (3)

A rectangular tank has dimensions

120x66x60 cm weighs 1410 N. If the tank is
allowed to float in fresh water, will the
equilibrium be stable with the 60 cm edge
vertical?

3
W = FB
1410 = 9810 * 1.2 * 0.66 * h
h = 0.181 m
OB = h / 2 = 0.091 m
OG = 0.3 m
BG = 0.3 -0.091 = 0.209 m
Imin = 1.2 * (0.66)3 / 12 = 0.0287 m4
Vimm = 1.2 * 0.66 * 0.181 = 0.1433 m3
MG = (Imin / Vimm) – BG = - 0.0084 m
MG = - ve 0.66 m

The tank is UNSTABLE.

0.30 m
G

0.60 m
W

0.30 m
B
h

h/2

FB

Problem No. (4)

A platform carried on two 10 m long

wooden
beams, as shown in Fig. 1, is floating in
water. Examine the stability of a single
beam, and of the platform. (Neglect the
weight of the connection pieces and take
the
density of wood as 600 kg/m3).

4
Case 1: (One beam only):
W = γm * Volume
W = 600 * 9.81 * 0.25 * 0.3 * 10 = 4414.5 N
FB = γf * Displace Volume
Displaced Volume (V) = h * 0.3 * 10 = 3 h m3
FB = 9810 * 3h = 29430 h N 0.30 m

ΣFy = 0

0.125 m
W = FB G

0.30 m
4414.5 = 29430 h W

0.125 m
h = 0.15 m B

h/2
FB

BG = 0.125 – 0.075 = 0.05 m

Imin = 10 * 0.33 / 12 = 0.0225 m4
MG = (Imin / V) – BG
MG = (0.0225 / 0.45) – 0.05 = zero
The beam is in NEUTRAL equilibrium.

Case 2: (The total Platform):

W = γm * Volume
W = 2 * 600 * 9.81 * 0.25 * 0.3 * 10 = 8829 N
FB = γf * Displace Volume
Displaced Volume (V) = 2 * h * 0.3 * 10 = 6 h m3
FB = 9810 * 6h = 58860 h N
0.25 m

0.25 m
h

0.3 m 0.3 m

ΣFy = 0 y
W = FB
8829 = 58860 h x
10 m

h = 0.15 m
BG = 0.125 – 0.075 = 0.05 m
Ix = 2 * 0.3 * 103 / 12 = 50 m4
Iy = 2 * ((10 * 0.33 / 12) + 0.452 * 0.3 * 10) = 1.26 m4
Imin = 1.26 m4
MG = (Imin / V) – BG
MG = (1.26 / 0.9) – 0.05 = 1.35
The beam is STABLE.

5
Problem No. (5)

A 1 m diameter cylinder is connected to a 3

m wide rectangular gate as shown in Fig. 2.
The gate is designed to open when the
water depth (h) drops below 2.5 m.
Determine the mass of the cylinder.
(Neglect
friction at pulley).

FB + T = W
γw * 1.5 * Π * 0.52 + T = W
9810 * 1.5 * Π * 0.52 + T = W
11557.13 + T = W (1)
ΣMa = 0
F * 2.5 / 3 = 4 T
0.5 * 9810 * 2.5 * 2.5 * 3 * 2.5 / 3 =
4T Pulley

T = 19160.16 N 1m
T

Sub. in (1):
4m

11557.13 + 19160.16 = W B W
FB
Cylinder

W = 30717.29 N
F
1m

W= m * g Figure (2)
30717.29 = m * 9.81
m = 3131.22 kg = 3.131 tons
The mass of the cylinder = 3.131 tons

6
Problem No. (6)
A rectangular pontoon 10.3 m long, 7.3 m
wide, and 2.4 m deep has a displacement
weight of 74 tons. If an empty cylindrical
boiler of 5.5 m diameter and 10.3 m long
weighing 70 tons is mounted on its deck,
check the stability of the system while
floating in sea-water (1.03), when thr boiler's axis
is: a) horizontal (parallel to pontoon axis),
b) vertical.

Case (1) " The boiler axis//to pontoon axis"

W1 + W2 = FB
74+70 = 1.03 * 10.3 * 7.3 * h
H = 1.86 m
W1 *OG1 + W2 * OG2 = (W1 +W2) * OG
74 * 1.2 + 70 * 5.15 = 144 * OG
OG = 3.12 m
OB = h / 2 = 0.93m
5.5 m

G2

BG = OG – OB = 2.19 m
2.4 m

Imin = 10.3 (7.3)3 / 12 = 333.91m4 G1 W

B FB
h

Vimm = 10.3 * 7.3 * 1.86 = 139.85m3 O

7.3 m
MG = Imin / Vimm – BG = 0.198 m
MG (+) ve ------- Stable

7
Case (2) "The boiler axis is vertical"
W1 + W2 = FB
74+70 = 1.03 * 10.3 * 7.3 * h
h = 1.86 m
W1 * OG1 + W2 * OG2 = (W1 + W2) * OG
74 * 1.2 + 70 * 7.55 = 144 * OG
5.5 m

OG = 4.29 m
OB = h / 2 = 0.93 m

10.3 m
BG = OG – OB = 3.36 m
G2

Imin = 10.3 (7.3)3 / 12 = 333.91m4

Vimm = 10.3 * 7.3 * 1.86 = 139.85m3

2.4 m
G1 W
MG = Imin / Vimm - BG = -0.97m B FB

h
O
MG (-(-) ve ------- Unstable 7.3 m

Problem No. (7)

Check the stability of the floating shown

in Fig. 3.

8
FB = W
γw * V = W
V = (2 * 4 * h) * 2 = 16 h m3
9810 * 16 h = 64000 * 9.81

3m
W = 64 t
h=4m

h
MG = (Imin / V) – BG Sec. Elev.
Water

BG = 5 m
V = 16 * 4 = 64 m3

4m
Ix = 2 * (2 * 43 / 12)
= 21.333 m4 2m 6m 2m

Iy = 2 * (4 * 23 / 12 + 2 * 4 * 42) Top Veiw

= 261.33 m4
Imin = 21.333 m4
y

MG = (21.333 / 64) – 5 = - 4.667 x

4m
m
MG = - ve value 2m 6m 2m

The floating unit is UNSTABLE. Top Veiw

Problem No. (8)

A cylindrical buoy 1.35 m diameter and 1.8

m high has a mass of 770 kg. Show that it
will not float with its axis vertical in
sea-water (1.025). What minimum pull
should be applied to a chain attached to the
center of the base to keep it vertical?

9
 Part (1)

1.8 m
Mass = 770 Kg
G

W = 770 Kg B

h
FB
O

W = FB 1.35 m

770 = 1.025 * 1000 * π/4 (1.35)2 * h

h = 0.525 m
BG = OG – OB = 0.9 – h / 2 = 0.638m
Imin = π/64 (1.35)4 = 0.163 m4
V = π/4 (1.35)2 * 0.525 = 0.7515 m3
MG = Imin / Vimm – BG = -0.421 m
MG (-) ve ------- Unstable

Part (2)
W + T =FB
770 + T = 1.025 * 1000 *π
*π/4 (1.35)2 * H
H = (770 + T) / 1467.17
OB = H / 2 = (770 + T) / 2934.34
Take the moment about "o" to get the center of gravity

(G)
770 * 0.9 + T * (0) = (770 + T) (OG)
OG = 693 / (770 + T)
GB = OG – BG = 693/(770 +T) – (770 + T) / 2934.34
Imin = π/64 (1.35)4 = 0.163 m4
V = π/4 (1.35)2 * H = π/4 (1.35)2 * (770 + T) /
1467.17 1.35 m
Imin / V = 167.12 / (770 + T)
For stability
MG = Imin/ V – GB> 0
1.8 m

Imin / V>GB G
167.12 /(770+T) >693/(770+T) – (770 + T)/2934.34 W
By solving the above equation
T>472.2 ton B
h

FB
O
T

10
Problem No. (9)
An open rectangular tank is 2 m long, 1 m
wide and 1.5 m deep. If the tank contains
gasoline to a depth of 1 m, calculate the
maximum horizontal acceleration with which
the tank can move without spilling gasoline.
Find the amount of gasoline retained in the
tank when it is accelerated at double the
previously calculated value.

Volume of air = const

o

0.5 * 2 * 1 = 2 * X / 2 * 1
x
1.5 m
1m

X = 1m
tan θ = ax / g = X / 2 2m

ax = 4.9 m/s2
If the acceleration is doubled
O1

ax1 = 9.81 m/s2

1.5 m
1m

x1

tan θ1 = ax / g = X1 / 2 = 1
2m
X1 = 2 m
The volume retains = 0.5*(2-
0.5)*1.5*1
= 1.125 m3

11
Problem No. (10)
A closed rectangular tank 1.2 m high, 2.5 m
wide is filled with water. The pressure at the
top of the tank is raised to 60 KN/m2.
Calculate the pressure at the corners of this
tank when it is decelerated horizontally
along the direction of its length at 5 m/sec2.
Calculate the force on the ends of the tank and
check their difference by Newton's law.

tan θ = ax / g = 9.81 = h / 2.5

h = 1.274 m
P = PSurface + γw * H
P
Pa = 60 + 9.81 * 0 = 60 KN/m2
Pb = 60 + 9.81 * 1.2 = 71.77 KN/ m2 a d
Pd = 60 + 9.81 * 1.274 = 72.50 KN/ m 2
1.2 m

Pc = 60 + 9.81 * 2.474 = 84.27 KN/ m2 F1 F2

Force on the back side b c
= 1.2 * (60 + 71.77) / 2 * 1.5 2.5 m
ax
F1 = 118.593 t
Force on the front side
= 1.2 * (72.50 + 84.27) / 2 *
1.5
F2 = 141.093 t
ΣF = m. ax
m.ax = 1 * 1.2 * 2.5 * 1.5 * 5 = 22.5 KN
F2 – F1 = 141.093 – 118.593 = 22.5KN ------ (OK)

12
Problem No. (11)
A closed rectangular tank 6 m long, 2 m
wide and 2 m deep is partially filled with oil
(0.9) to a depth of 1.5 m under a pressure of
0.4 bars. Determine the maximum
acceleration with which the tank can move in
the direction of its length if a safety valve
that withstands a maximum pressure of 60 KN/m2
is fitted at the center of its rear end.

Pa = 60*103 N/ m2
= 0.4*1.013*105 + γoil * H
H = 2.21 m
The volume of air before motion = the volume
of air after motion
2 * x * y / 2 = 0.5 * 6 * 2
x*y=6 y = 6 / x ------------ (1)
tan θ = y / x = 1.21 / (6 –x) ----------- (2)
Sub. From (1) in (2)
x = 3.512 m x
h

y = 1.708 m P =0.4 bars

1m

tan θ = 1.708 / 3.512

y
2m

O il (0.90) a
1.5 m

1m

= ax / g
6m
ax = 4.771 m/s2
ax

13
Problem No. (12)

Find the force on the bottom side of the

tank
in problem 11, when the tank moves with
the same acceleration, but in the vertical
direction: a) upwards, b) downwards.

a) Tank moves upwards

ay = + ve
P = Psurface + γoil * h (1 + ay / g)
= 0.4*1.013*102 + 0.9*9.81*1.5*(1 + 4.771 /
9.81)
= 60.204 KN/ m2
F = P A = 60.204 * 6 * 2 = 722.452 KN
P=0.4 bars
2m

Oil (0.90)
1.5 m

6m
ay

14
b) Tank moves downwards
ay = - ve
P = Psurface + γoil * h (1 – ay / g)
= 0.4*1.013*102 + 0.9*9.81*1.5*(1 – 4.771 /
9.81)
= 47.323 KN/m2
F = P * A = 47.323 * 6 * 2 = 567.872 KN
P=0.4 bars
2m

Oil (0.90)
1.5 m

6m
ay

Problem No. (13)

A 375 mm high opened cylinder, 150 mm

diameter is filled with water and rotated
about its vertical axis at an angular speed
of
33.5 rad/sec. Determine the depth of water
in the cylinder when brought to rest. Find
the volume of water that remains in the
cylinder if the speed is doubled.

15
a) w = 33.5 rad/sec
H = w2 R2 / 2 g = (33.5)2
(0.15/2)2 / (2 * 9.81) 33.5
= 0. 321 m rad/sec

The the volume of air is cost

h
H
1/2 * π/4 (1.5)2 * 0.321

375 mm
= h * π/4 (1.5)2
h = 0.161 m

d
at rest the depth = 0.375 – 0.161
= 0.214 m D=150 mm

b) w = 33.5 * 2 = 67 rad/sec
rad/sec
H = w2 R2 / 2g = (67)2 (0.15/2)2 / (2 * 9.81)
= 1.287 m > 0.375 m D=150 mm

h = 1.287 – 0.375 = 0.912 m 33.5

rad/sec
h = w2 r2 / 2g = (67)2 r2 /(2 * 9.81)
= 0.912 m
r = 0.063 m
375 mm

The volume of air = 1/2 * π/4 (0.15)2 *

H

1.287
- 1/2 * π (0.063)2 * r

0.912
h

= 5.686 * 10-3 m3
The volume retained = π/4 (0.15)2 * 0.375
– 5.686 *
10-3
7 588 * 10-4m3

16
Problem No. (14)
A closed cylindrical tank 2 m long and 1 m
diameter is partially filled with water to 1.5 m
depth. The pressure at the water surface is
40 KN/m2.If the tank is rotated about its
vertical axis with an angular velocity of 12
rad/sec, determine the pressure at the
bottom of the tank, at the center, and at the edge.
Also calculate the force on the top of the tank.

w = 12 rad/sec
rad/sec
H = w2 R2 / 2g = (12)2 (0.5)2 / (2 * 9.81)
= 1.835 m
h = w2 r2 / 2g ------------- (1)
The volume of air is const
1/2 * π r2 * h = 0.5 * π (0.5)2 --------------- (2)
By solving 1 ، 2 12 rad/sec
h = 1.355 m
y

r = 0.43 m
y = H – h = 1.835 – 1.355 = 0.48 m 40kN/m2
Pa = Psurface + γw * (2 – h) = 40 + 9.81* (2 – 1.355) =
z

46.33 KN
Pb = Psurface + γw * (2 + y) = 40 + 9.81* (2 + 0.48) = 64.33
KN
2m

The volume of imaginary fluid

1.5 m

= π (0.5)2 * y – (1/2 * π R2 * H - 1/2 * π r2 Water

* h)
= 0.05 m3
The average depth of imaginary fluid (h (havr)
a
= 0.05 / π (0.5)2 = 0.064 b
m
1m
The average pressure on the top of the tank (p (pavr)
= 40 + π * pavr = 40.62 KN/m2
The force on the top = pavr * Area = 40.62 * π (0.5)2
= 31.91 KN

17
Problem No. (15)

A 2.0 m diameter cylinder 3.0 m high is

completely filled with glycerin of S.G. =1.6
under pressure of 2.43 bar at the top. The
steel plates forming the cylinder are 12 mm
thick and can withstand an allowable stress
of 83x106 Pascal. What maximum speed in
RPM can be imposed on the cylinder?

Psurface = 2.43 bar =2.43 * 105 N/m2

Fall = 83 * 106 N/m2
H

t = 12 mm P = 2.43 bar

P.D.L = 2T
P.D.L = 2Fal t. L
3m

S.G. = 1.6

P * 2 = 2 (83 * 106) (1.2/100)

P = 996000 N/m2 2m

P = Psurface + γw * H
996*103 = 243*103 +
1.6*9810*(3+w2(1)2/2g) P

W = 29.71 rad/sec
rad/sec 0.12 m

N = 60 * W / (2π(2π)
T T

N = 60 * 29.71 / (2π
(2π) = 283.6 RPM

18