Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines, Dr. R.

K Bansal, Laxmi Publication, Chapter

2
LP 04: Pascal's Law
Fluids in contact with surfaces exert a force on the surfaces. The force is mainly
due to the specific weight of the fluid in the case of liquids. In the case of
gases molecular activity is the main cause of force exerted on the surfaces of the
containers.

1. Pressure Variation 3
2. Types of pressure 5
3. Measurement of pressures. 7

1. Define Pressure.

2. Define Pascal's Law

3. Define absolute pressure.

1. Explain in detail about manometers

2. Derive an expression for the distribution of force in static fluid subjected to

whole body acceleration
in a general direction

3. Derive an expression for the pressure distribution in an incompressible fluid

accelerated horizontally.

1. An inclined tube manometer with limb at 10° to horizontal shows a column length
of 8 cm above the reservoir level. The specific weight of the fluid is 900 × 9.81
N/m3. Determine pressure above atmospheric level.

2. The atmospheric pressure at an elevation of 300 m was 100 kPa. when the
temperature was 20°C. If the temperature varies at the rate of – 0.006° C/m,
determine the pressure at height of 1500 m.

3. A rocket is accelerating horizontally to the right at 10 g. The pressure gauge

is connected by a 0.6 m length tube to the left end of the fuel tank. If the
pressure in the tank is 35 bar, and if fuel specific gravity is 0.8, determine the
pressure gauge reading.

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines, Dr. R.K Bansal, Laxmi Publication, Chapter
3
LP 05. Hydrostatic Force
When a fluid is in contact with a surface is exerts a normal force on the surface.
The walls of reservoirs, sluice gates, flood gates, oil and water tanks and the
hulls of ships are exposed to the forces exerted by fluids in contact with them.
The fluids are generally under static condition.

1. Centroid and Moment of Inertia of Areas 2

2. Force on an Arbitrarily Shaped Plate Immersed in a Liquid 5
3. Centre of Pressure for an Immersed Inclined Plane 8

1. Define Center of pressure.

2. Define moment of inertia

3. Define Centroid.
1. Explain the importance of the study of fluid forces on surfaces and submerged
bodies.

2. Explain the concept of centroid of an area or centre of gravity. What will be

the value of first moment of area about the centroid.

3. Explain the concept of Moment of Inertia of a surface and the application of the
same in the study of forces due to fluid pressure on surfaces.

1. A tank contains mercury upto a height of 0.3 m over which water stands to a
depth of 1 m and oil of specific gravity 0.8 stands to a depth of 0.5 m over water.
For a width of 1 m determine the total pressure and also the point of action of the
same.

2. Show that the resultant force on a submerged plane remains unchanged if the area
is rotated about an axis through the centroid.

3. Derive an expression for the force on a thin plate of given arbitrary shape
immersed in a liquid at an angle θ to the free surface.

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines, Dr. R.K Bansal, Laxmi Publication, Chapter
3
LP 06. Hydrostatic Force
When a fluid is in contact with a surface is exerts a normal force on the surface.
The walls of reservoirs, sluice gates, flood gates, oil and water tanks and the
hulls of ships are exposed to the forces exerted by fluids in contact with them.
The fluids are generally under static condition.

1. Component of Forces on Immersed Inclined Rectangles 2

2. Forces on Curved Surfaces 4
3. Hydrostatic Forces in Layered Fluids 5

1. Define Vertical Force

2. Define Horizontal Force

3. Define hydrostatic force.

1. Obtain simplified expressions for the centre of pressure of vertical planes. (i)
plate (ii) circle (iii) triangle.

2. Show that in the case of a rectangle inclined to the horizontal, immersed in a

fluid with its centroid at a depth, h (i) the horizontal component of the resultant
force equals the force on the vertical projection of the area and (ii) the vertical
component equals the weight of the fluid column above this area.

3. Explain how force on curved surfaces due to fluid pressure is determined.

1. A channel is closed by two swinging lock gates each of 4 m wide and 6 m height
and when closed the angle between them is 120°. On the upstream side the water
level is 5.5 m and in the downstream it is 2m. Determine (i) normal force on each
gate and (ii) the reaction between the gates. If the gates are hinged at 0.5 m and
5.5 m from the base, determine the reaction at each hinge.

2. Determine the total force and location of the centre of pressure on a

rectangular plate 11 m long and 6 m wide with a triangular opening immersed in
water at an angle of 40° to the horizontal as shown in figure. The top edge of the
inclined plate is 6 m from the free surface
3. An oil tank has an opening of 2 m square with diagonal horizontal in one of its
vertical wall as shown in Fig. P. 3.10. Determine the total force and torque
required to close the opening by a hinged gate exactly if the oil (sp. gravity
0.90) level is 5m above the centreline of the gate.

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines, Dr. R.K Bansal, Laxmi Publication, Chapter
4
LP 07: Buoyancy Forces
If an object is immersed in or floated on the surface of fluid under static
conditions a force acts on it due to the fluid pressure. This force is called
buoyant force. The calculation of this force is based on Archimedes principle.

1. Stability of Submerged and Floating Bodies 2

2. Conditions for the Stability of Floating Bodies 3
3. Metacentric Height 5

1. Define Archimedes Principle

2. Define buoyant force.

3. Define Metacenteric Height.

1. A cylinder of diameter 0.3 m and height 0.6 m stays afloat vertically in water
at a depth of 1 m from the free surface to the top surface of the cylinder.
Determine the buoyant force on the cylinder

2. Explain the Condition for the stability of floating bodies.

3. Explain the Experimental Method for the Determination of Metacentric Height

1. Derive the expression forthe metacenteric height.

2. A cube of side 40 cm weighing 1050 N is lowered into a tank containing water

over a layer of mercury. Determine the position of the block under equilibrium.

3. The distance between the markings of specific gravity of 1 and 1.1 is 10 mm, for
a hydrometer of 10 mm dia. Determine the weight of the unit.