CHAPTER 13

PHYSICAL APPLICATIONS
OF THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL

Lesson 1: FORCE OF FLUID PRESSURE

Objective:
 To determine the force of fluid pressure which is one the physical
phenomena by way of integration.
Formula: F= w∫ hdA

Examples:
 1. A plate in the form of an isosceles triangle of base 6ft and altitude
4ft is submerged vertically in water. Find the force on one side of the
plate if the base is parallel to and 3ft below the surface.

Solution:
y
4

F=w∫ (7− y) 2 xdy Fluid Surface

0

By properties of similar triangle,

Solve for x,
4/3=y/x
X=3y/4 x 7-y
4

F=3w/2∫ (7 y− y 2 )dy
0
2 3 4
3w 7 y y
= 2 [ 2 −3] 4 dy y
0

=52w lb x
-3 3

Where w = 62.5 lb/ft3 is the weight density for water.

  2. A rectangular plate 12ft long and 8ft wide is submerged vertically
with the longer edge in the surface of the water. Find the force on one
side of the plate.

Solution: y
water Surface
8

F= w∫ (8− y) 2 xdy x h
0
8

= w∫ ( 8− y ) 12dy dy 8
0
8

= w∫ ( 96−12 y ) xdy y
0

= w[96 y −6 y 2 ¿ ¿ 80 -6 0 6 x
-6 6

Where x = 6 as shown in the figure, thus

F= 384 w lb ans.

 3. A triangular plate with base 5ft and altitude 3ft is submerged

vertically so that its vertex is above the base and 2ft below the surface
of the water. Find the force against one side of the plate.

Solution:
3

F= w∫ (5− y) 2 xdy Fluid Surface

0
3 3− y
=
5 x h 2
2
15−5 y
x= 6 x 3
5
3
15−5 y
=2 w∫ (5− y)( )dy y
0 6
3
1
= 3 w∫ ( 75−40 y +5 y 2 ) dy 5
0
1 5 y3 3
= 3 w [75 y−20 y 2 + ¿¿ 0
3
F= 30w lb
Evaluation/Exercise

1. If the plate in example problem 3 above is submerged vertically so that its vertex is above the
base and 2 ft below the surface of the water, find the force against one side of the plate.

2. A trough of length of 6 feet has for its vertical cross section an isosceles trapezoid. The upper
and the lower bases are 6 ft and 2 ft respectively and the altitude is 2 ft. If the trough is full of
water , find the force on the slant side of the trough.