NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

551 MF Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

NAME: ________________________________________ DATE: _____________________

GROUP # _________________ SECTION: _________________

EXPERIMENT # 5
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
I. OBJECTIVES:
1. To determine experimentally the magnitude of the force of
pressure(hydrostatic force) and its point of action(center of pressure) on a
plane surface.
2. To compare the experimentally results with the theoretical values.
II. APPARATUS:
Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus

III. THEORY:

Fatm

W
A h

F
 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
551 MF Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

THEORETICAL
Considering vertical forces acting on the cylindrical fluid column, there is a force (F) due
to the pressure at the bottom surface of the column acting on that bottom surface. On
the upper end that lies on the fluid surface, if the top surface in the atmosphere, there is
a force (Fatm) due to the atmospheric pressure acting on the upper surface of the
column. Moreover there is also another force (W) due to the gravity of the earth acting
on the fluid column. Thus under equilibrium condition of the fluid, we obtain the following
relation:
P=ρ g h + p atm

Thus, if we substitute the value of atmospheric pressure (P atm) with gauge pressure
(equal to zero) the equation will be reduced to:

P=ρ g h

The moment about the ox-axis to a small force dF will be:

M = yp F = ϒ sinθ Iox

If divide both sides of the above equation be force F,

ϒ sin θIox ϒ sin θIox Iox

Yp = = =
F ϒ sin θYcA YcA

Since,

I ox= yc2 A + Ic

After substituting the Iox we obtained the new form of equation as:

AYc 2 + Ic Ic
Yp = = Yc +
YcA YcA
 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
551 MF Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

EXPERIMENTAL
In the case of water level is above the upper edge of the quadrant lower end:

2WL
hp = − (Ro − P)
ρgP 2 A

IV. PROCEDURE:
1. Adjust the level of the equipment by the bull’s eye level indicator on the
base of the tank.
2. Adjust the position of the counter balance weight W o (when no water in the
tank) until the arm is level with pointer.
3. Fill the water up above the upper edge of the quadrant end to about
almost full position (causing the imbalance of the arm).
4. Slowly add weight W on the hanger and adjust the weight W until the arm
is level again.
5. Measure the water height or the distance P and record its value together
with weight of W.
6. Take out a weight of 20 grams off the weight hanger, then drain the water
from the tank until the arm is level again.
7. Repeat 5.
8. Repeat 6 until the water in the tank is about half of the height of the
quadrant end rectangular section.
9. Calculate yp to determine the position of the center of pressure by using
the equations.
10. Compare the center of pressure obtained from the experiment with the
theoretical value.
 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
551 MF Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY
V. DATA & RESULTS

Temperature of water Moment arm, L = 28cm

Outside radius, Ro = 20cm Width, w = 7.5cm
Inside radius, Ri = 10cm

Water level is LOWER than the upper edge of submerged area.

WATER
WEIGHT EXPERIMENTAL THEORETICAL PERCENTAGE
TEST LEVEL
W hp hP DIFFERENCE
NO. P
g. mm. mm. OF hp
mm.

10
 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
551 MF Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

VI. COMPUTATIONS
 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
551 MF Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

VII. DRAWING:
 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
551 MF Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

VIII. OBSERVATION & CONCLUSION:

 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
551 MF Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

IX. PICTURES
 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
551 MF Jhocson Street, Sampaloc, Manila
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY