1.

If the pressure in a tank is 50 psi, find the equivalent pressure head of a) water b) mercury and c)
heavy fuel oil with specific gravity of 0.92.

- Solution:
p
h=
γ
a) Pressure head of water
144 i n2

h=
( 50 psi ×
1f t2 )
=115.38 ft
lb
62.4 3
ft
b) Pressure head of mercury
144 i n2

h=
(
50 psi ×
1f t2 )
=8.50 ft
lb
(13.6)(62.4 3 )
ft
c) Pressure head of heavy fuel oil with specific gravity of 0.92.
144 i n2

h=
(
50 psi ×
1f t2 )
=125.42 ft
lb
( 0.92)(62.4 3 )
ft

2. A pressure gage 19.0 ft above the bottom of a tank containing a liquid reads 13.19 psi;
another gage at height 14.0 ft reads 15.12 psi. Compute the specific weight, mass density,
and specific gravity of the liquid.

- Solution:
a) Solving for the specific weight of the liquid
Δ p=γ ( Δ h )
144 i n2

γ=
[ ( 15.12 psi−13.19 psi ) ( 1f t2 )] =55.6
lb
19 ft−14 ft f t3
b) Solving for the density of the liquid
l bf
55.6
γ f t3 slug
ρ= = =1.73 3
g ft ft
32.2 2
s
c) Solving for the specific gravity of the liquid
lb
55.6
f t3
s . g .= =0.891
lb
62.4 3
ft

3. If the atmospheric pressure is 0.9 bar abs and a gage attached to a tank reads 390 mmHg
vacuum, what is the absolute pressure within the tank?
 -Solution:
p|¿|= p − p ¿
atm g

p|¿|=¿ ¿
p|¿|=38 kPa ¿

4. The closed tank in figure PS 1 is at 20oC. If the pressure at point A is 98 kPa abs, what is the
absolute pressure at point B? What percent error results from neglecting the specific weight
of the air?

- Solution:
pB = p A + ∑ γ d hd − ∑ γ u hu
downward upward
a) For the absolute pressure at point B

p A + γ air h AC −γ H O hDC −γ air h DB= p B

2

N N
9.80665 9.80665
pB =98 kPa+1.2
kg
m3 ( 1000
N
kN
kg
) kN
( )kg
( 5 m )− 9.79 3 ( 5 m−3 m )−1.2 3
m m 1000
N
kN
kg
(3 m)
( )
pB =78.444 kPa a

b) Percent error if air is neglected

For PB if air is neglected

kN
pB =98 kPa− 9.79
( m3 )
( 5 m−3 m )

pB =78.42 kPa
Then,
78.444 kPa−78.42 kPa
% error= × 100 %
78.444 kPa
% error=0.031 %

5. The system in figure below is at 20 oC. If atmospheric pressure is 101.03 kPa and the
absolute pressure at the bottom of the tank is 231.3 kPa, what is the
specific gravity of olive oil?
 - Solution:

Solving for the specific gravity of the olive oil

patm + s . g SAE30 γ H 2 O@ 20° C h SAE 30+ γ H O
2 @20 ° C
h H O + s . goil γ H O
2 2 @ 20 ° C
hoil + s . gHg γ H 2 O@ 20 ° C hHg =231.3 kPa

kN kN kN kN
101.03 kPa+ ( 0.89 ) 9.79
( m 3 ) ( ) ( )
( 1.5 m ) + 9.79 3 ( 2.5m ) + ( s . g oil ) 9.79 3 ( 2.9 m) + ( 13.6 ) 9.79 3 ( 0.4 m )=231.3 k
m m m ( )
s . g .oil =1.39

6. The hydraulic jack shown in figure PS 3 is filled with oil at 55 lb/ft 3. Neglecting the weight of
the two pistons, what force F on the handle is required to support the 2200-lb weight?

- Solution:

Pascal’s Principle: the pressure exerted at one surface of an incompressible fluid is equal to
the pressure exerted on any other surface.

For the pressure in the oil from the weight on the large piston:

W
Poil =
2200lb
A 3∈¿ = ¿
π
¿¿¿
4
For the force exerted on the small piston

F=Poil ¿

For the summation of moments about the hinge A of the handle:

Σ M A =F ( 16+1 ) – (244.514 lb)¿)¿ 0,
There fore
F=14.38 lb
7. A manometer is attached to a tank containing
three different fluids, as shown in figure PS4. What
will be the difference in elevation of mercury
column in the manometer?
 Considering only the gage pressure

pA+ ∑ γ d hd − ∑ γ u hu=0
downward upward

kN kN kN kN
(
30 kPa+ ( 0.82 ) 9.79
m 3 ) m ( ) ( m ) ( m )
( 5−2 ) m+ 9.79 3 ( 2−0 ) m+ 9.79 3 ( 1 ) m− (13.6 ) 9.79 3 ( y ) m=0

y=0.627 m
For SP 5. Solving for pressure difference
 lb
(
P A + 62.4
f t3 )( 66.6
12
ft ) −( 13.6 ) 62.4
( lb 40.3
3
ft ) ( 12
ft ) + 62.4
( lb 22.2
3
ft ) ( 12
ft )−( 13.6 ) 62.4
( lb 30
) (
f t 12
3
ft )− 62.4
( lb 10
f t ) ( 12
3

lb
P A −PB =3562 =31.7 psi
f t2

For SP 6. Solving for pressure difference

 kN kN kN
(
P A − 9.79
m 3) ( ) ( )
( x )− ( 0.8 ) 9.79 3 ( 0.7 m ) + 9.79 3 ( x−0.8 )=P B
m m

P A −PB =13.314 kPa

For SP 7. Solving for pressure difference

kN kN kN kN
(
P A + ( 0.88 ) 9.79
m 3) ( m ) (m ) ( m )
( 0.21 m) −( 13.6 ) 9.79 3 ( 0.09 m )−( 0.82 ) 9.79 3 ( 0.41−0.09 ) m+ 9.79 3 ( 0.41−0.15 ) m

P A −PB =10.2 kPa