Contents

Aim ............................................................................................................................................................... 1

Theory ........................................................................................................................................................... 1

Apparatus ...................................................................................................................................................... 2

Procedure ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

Calculation .................................................................................................................................................... 4

Result and Discussion ................................................................................................................................... 6

Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................... 7

References ..................................................................................................................................................... 7

List of Figure
Figure 1 Surface is partially submerged ....................................................................................................... 1

Figure 2 Surface is Fully submerged ............................................................................................................ 2

Figure 3 water vessel .................................................................................................................................... 2

List of Table
Table 1 result................................................................................................................................................. 6
Aim

• To determine the hydrostatic force acting on a plane surface immersed in water.

• To determine the experimental and the theoretical center of pressure.

Theory

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure that is exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point
within the fluid, due to the force of gravity. hydrostatic pressure depends on the density of the fluid
and the height of the fluid column, increases in proportion to depth measured from the surface
because of the increasing weight of fluid exerting downward force from above. Calculation of the
hydrostatic force and the location of the center of pressure are fundamental subjects in fluid
mechanics. The center of pressure is a point on the immersed surface at which the resultant
hydrostatic pressure force acts (Habib Ahmari).

The resultant hydrostatic force on the face can therefore be calculated from the value of the
balance weight and the depth of the water when 𝜃 = 60 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒, as follows:

a) Surface is partially submerged:

h
A=B*H B=100mm, H=
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

Ĥ= h/2

𝐵∗𝐻 3
IGC= 12

Resultant force (F) = Υ Ĥ A

IGC
Centre of pressure (hp) = Ĥ.A sin2 𝜃 + Ĥ

Figure 1 Surface is partially submerged

1
 b) Surface is Fully submerged:

A=B*H B=100mm, d= 100mm

Ĥ = h – 0.05Sin 𝜃

𝐵∗𝐻 3
IGC = 12

Resultant force (F) = Υ Ĥ A

IGC
Centre of pressure (hp) = sin2 𝜃 + Ĥ
Ĥ.A

Figure 2 Surface is Fully submerged

Apparatus

Material

• Water

Equipment

• Water vessel

Figure 3 water vessel

2
Procedure

• Set the balance arm to 60 degree.

• Add 50 g the weights supplied to the weight carrier, and fill the tank with water
until the balance arm reach 60 degree.

• Measure the height of water.

• Add 100 g the weights supplied to the weight carrier, and fill the tank with water
until the balance arm reach 60 degree.

• Measure the height of water.

• Add 100 g the weights supplied to the weight carrier, and fill the tank with water
until the balance arm reach 60 degree again.

• Measure the height of water.

3
Calculation

4
5
Result and Discussion

Table 1 result

θ=60

No. Lever arm A.weight Water level R.force hp theory hp practical

L (m) (N) h (m) F (N) (m) (m)

1 0.35 0.49 0.062 2.17 0.031 - 0.0247

2 0.35 0.981 0.09 4.586 0.0599 - 0.018

3 0.35 0.981 error error error error

This experiment has as objective to determine the center of pressure of hydrostatic force
acting on a vertical plane surface immersed in water. In order to performance this experiment the
following measurements were needed, mass, height, centroid, and with these data it was calculate
the distance, resultant hydrostatic force. three runs were performed. The obtained result showed
large discrepancies between the theoretical and practical values of the center of pressure, for
example in first one the theoretical center of pressure was 0.031 m and practically was - 0.0247 m,
and this is because some error in the water vessel such as unbalance weight, error in determining
the depth. And error occurred in 3th one because the water exceeded before the balance arm
reached 60 degree.

6
Conclusion

This experiment used different formulas to ensure that the theory and the practical use
match. Hydrostatic pressure is caused by the weight of a liquid at rest and affects any surface in
contact. The center of pressure affected by the depth of water, by increasing the water level center
of pressure increase, but the center of the area is constant, so deference between to centers increases
with increasing the level of the water.

References

Habib Ahmari, Applied Fluid Mechanics, Available:

https://uta.pressbooks.pub/appliedfluidmechanics/chapter/experiment-1/

Armfield. (2013). Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus. Instruction Manual, F1-12, Issue 9, Feb.