Tutorial 3

1) Gates in the Poe Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, close a channel W= 34 m wide, L
= 360m long, and D = 10m deep. The geometry of one pair of gates is shown; each
gate is hinged at the channel wall. When closed, the gate edges are forced together
at the center of the channel by water pressure. Evaluate the force exerted by the
water on gate A. Determine the magnitude and direction of the force components
exerted by the gate on the hinge. (Neglect the weight of the gate.)

2) The gate shown is 3 m wide and for analysis can be considered massless. For what
depth of water will this rectangular gate be in equilibrium as shown?
3) Consider the cylindrical weir of diameter 3 m and length 6 m. If the fluid on the left has a
specific gravity of 1.6, and on the right has a specific gravity of 0.8, find the magnitude and
direction of the resultant force.

4) Find the specific weight of the sphere shown if its volume is 0.025m3. State all
assumptions. What is the equilibrium position of the sphere if the weight is
removed?

5) A block of volume 0.025 m3 is allowed to sink in water as shown. A circular rod 5 m

long and 20 cm2 in cross section is attached to the weight and also to the wall. If the
rod mass is 1.25 kg and the rod makes an angle of 12 degrees with the horizontal at
equilibrium, what is the mass of the block?
6) You are in the Bermuda Triangle when you see a bubble plume eruption (a large
mass of air bubbles, similar to a foam) off to the side of the boat. Do you want to
head toward it and be part of the action? What is the effective density of the water
and air bubbles in the drawing on the right that will cause the boat to sink? Your
boat is 10 ft long, and weight is the same in both cases.

7) A rectangular container of water undergoes constant acceleration down an incline as

shown. Determine the slope of the free surface using the coordinate system shown.
8) The U-tube shown is filled with water at T = 68o F. It is sealed at A and open to the
atmosphere at D. The tube is rotated about vertical axis AB at 300 rpm. For the
dimensions shown, what will the pressure be at A? If a small leak appears at A,
how much water will be lost at D?

9) In a logging operation, timber floats downstream to a lumber mill. It is a dry year,

and the river is running low, as low as 60 cm in some locations. What is the largest
diameter log that may be transported in this fashion (leaving a minimum 5 cm
clearance between the log and the bottom of the river)? For the wood, SG = 0.8.