Solved Examples

1) A cubical tank of 3 m length is filled with water of 2 m depth. If the tank is accelerated
horizontally at constant rate of 5 m2/sec, a) calculate the angle of the free surface to the
horizontal, b) the maximum pressure on the bottom and c) the total pressure on the
bottom.
Ans:
(a) The slope of the free surface

a 5
tan q = - =- = -0.5097
g 9.81
q = tan -1 ( 0.5097 ) = 27.0072

(b) As shown in fig., the maximum pressure in the hydrostatic pressure after the free
surface is at equilibrium position. The maximum pressure(gauge pressure) is
= 2 + tan q �1.5 = 2.8m

(c) Similarly , the maximum pressure resulted at the point c . Using the slope of the free
surface , the water level at c is
= 2 - tan q �1.5 = 1.2m

2) The tank shown in Fig., is filled with an oil of specific gravity 0.8. When the tank is
accelerated in the direction of its length at the rate of 6.0 m2/s, how many litres of the oil
is spilled?
Ans:
Given
roil = 0.8
a = 6.0m / sec 2
The slope of the free surface at constant linear acceleration is
a 6.0
tan q = - = - = -0.61
g 9.81

Since the container at initial stage , part of the will spill from the tank . at equilibrium
condition , the left side of the tank remain at full level and slope of the free surface
remain the same ,than drop in surface
= 5 �tan q = 3.06

Volume of oil spill = 1 2 �5 �tan q �5 �3 = 22.9m

3

3) A circular tank of 3m depth and 2.0 m diameter is completely filled with water. When
the tank is pulled on a horizontal plane at constant acceleration, half of the water spells
out. What is the acceleration?
Ans:
Given
Filled liquid = water
Type of the tank = cylindrical elevation
Spilling amount = half
Let horizontal acceleration

Sketch
The slope of the free surface due to the horizontal acceleration
a
tan q = -
g

Since, half of the water spills out

1
= �p �w 2 �3 = 4.7m3
2

4) A closed tube completely filled with a liquid of specific weight 9850 N / m3 is

accelerated to the right at the rate of 5m 2 / s . Draw the imaginary free surface and
determine the pressure at difference between points A and B.
Ans:
Given a = 5m / sec 2
w = 9850kg / m2

Sketch####

a 5
The slope of the imaginary line is = - =- = -0.51
g 9.81

Since the fluid is incompressible, the pressure difference between A and B, shown in fig.
�a�
is = 5 � � �9850 �g
�g �
 = 5 ( 0.51) �9850 �9.81
= 24.625 KN / m 2

5) An industrial container of length 10 m is to be designed to carry liquid on an inclined

slope of 450 at the maximum rate of 10 m2/s. What is the minimum allowance depth to
be kept so that there will be no spill of the liquid?
Ans:
Given

Inclined plane at an angle 45 degree

The horizontal component of the acceleration is
a x = a cos 450 = 10m / sec 2 ; a y = a sin 450 = 10m / sec 2

The slope of the free surface

� a � � 10.0 �
tan q = - � x �= - � �= 0.505
�ay + g � 10 + 9.81 �
� � �

The allowance required is

a �tan q
2
= 5 �0.505
= 2.524m
6) An open cylindrical tank of radius r and height h is filled with oil of specific gravity
0.8. At what speed must it rotate so that the center of the bottom to have zero depth of
water?
Given
Radius of the tank = r
Height of the tank = h
2p N
Let n the rotation in r.p.m. then angular velocity =
60

If M is the origin, then a relationship from ( ) between h and

w 2r 2
h=
2g
2gh
� w2 = 2
r
2gh
�w =
r2
2p N 2 gh
� =
60 r2
60 � 2 gh
�N =
2p r

7) The tank given in Fig. is filled with Carbon tetrachloride of specific weight 1590
kg/m3. When the tank is rotated at angular velocity of 2 rad/sec, what are the pressures at
points A, B and C in the figure?

w = 1590kg / m 2
w = 2rad / sec
The depth of above vortex m is

w 2 r0 2
d=
2g
22 �22
=
2 �9.81
= 0.815

Since a paraboloid of revolution has a volume equal to mone half its circumscribing
cylinder , then depth of the liquid above point A is = 3m - d 2

Then, the gauge pressure at A is

� d�
=� 3- � �w g
� 2�
� d�
=� 3- � �1590 �9.81
� 2�
= 40.43 KN / m 2

The depth of the liquid at a point above the vortex is

w 2 r 2 w 2 �12
x= = = 0.204m
2g 2 �g

� d�
Then, depth of the liquid at point B = x + �
3 - �= 2.796m
� 2�

Then, the pressure is equal to

= w �2.796 �9.81
= 43.611KN / m 2
The depth of the liquid at point C is
� d�
�3 + �= 3.408m
� 2�

Then, the pressure is

= w �3.408 �9.81

= 53.157 KN / m 2