NOTE

P H Y S I C S

Types of boundaries
FLUID MECHANICS
ACCELERATED MOTION OF FLUIDS

What you already know What you will learn

• Hydrostatic paradox • Pressure variation under acceleration of fluid

• Pascal’s law • Horizontal and vertical accelerations
• Pressure measuring devices • Pressure variation under rotation of fluid

BOARDS MAIN
Pressure variation under acceleration of fluid

Consider a container filled with a

liquid that is initially at rest. When it starts
moving with an acceleration a in the forward
direction, the free surface of the liquid takes a
slanted shape due to motion. The reason Rest
behind the slanted shape of the free surface
of the liquid can be explained by using the
concept of pseudo force. Consider an
element of thin cylindrical shape of length l and
cross sectional area Δs within the liquid which is
in acceleration a (non-inertial frame).
We know that the pressure variation with
respect to depth (i.e., in y-direction) is, y
dP
= −ρ g
dy
x
⇒ ∆P = − ρ gy
⇒ P = P0 + ρ gh h1 θ a
A h2
According to the ground frame of Fp
reference, although P1 and P2 are at the same P1 P2
horizontal level, P1 ≠ P2 as the liquid is in l
accelerated motion. Since the liquid has an
acceleration along positive x-direction, there is
a pseudoforce along negative x-direction and
hence along the direction of acceleration, of
acceleration, the pressure reduces as more quantity of liquid moves backward with it. Hence,
P1 > P2.

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 02

ma (Pseudo)

P1 (Δs) P2 (Δs)

Balancing the force along horizontal direction and using m = Vρ = ρ(lΔs), we get,
P1 ∆s = P2∆s + ma [P1 > P2 ]
⇒ P1 ∆s = P2∆s + ρ ( ∆s ) la
⇒ P1 = P2 + ρ la
ρ la
⇒ P1 − P2 =
⇒ ∆P = ρ la
For small distance dx ,
dP = ρ a ( dx )
dP
⇒ =− ρ a [Negative sign represents the decrease in pressure]
dx
From the analysis given above, we come to
know that the free liquid surface becomes
tilted due to acceleration. Now, the free Fp cosθ
surface of the liquid remains tilted until the net 90o
F
P W sin
tangential force acting on it becomes zero. Let p θ
us consider a particle P on the free surface of θ θ a
the liquid and draw the free body diagram of Fnet W
the particle.
If, W = mg = the weight of the particle P, and
FP = ma = the pseudo force on the particle, then
by balancing the forces along the free surface
of the liquid, we get,
FP cosθ = W sinθ
⇒ ma cosθ = mg sinθ
a
⇒ tanθ =
g
This proves that the tilt in the liquid surface is because of the acceleration due to motion of the
platform and the acceleration due to gravity.

1. Pressure increases with depth.

2. Pressure decreases in the direction of the acceleration of the fluid.

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 03

A liquid stands at the plane level in a U-tube when at rest. If

the areas of cross section of both the limbs are equal, what
will be the difference in heights of the liquid in the two limbs
when the system is given an acceleration a in the horizontal H
direction towards right?
L

aL aL gL gL
(A) (B) (C) (D)
g 2g a 2a

Solution

The acceleration causes the tube to move towards the right. Due to this, there will be a difference
in the level of liquid, and in the left limb, the height of the liquid will be increased.
PA (from left) = P0 + ρ g(H + x )
PA (from right) = P0 + ρ g(H − x ) + ρ aL
⇒ P0 + ρ g(H + x ) =
P0 + ρ g(H − x ) + ρ aL
⇒ ρ gx = − ρ gx + ρ aL
⇒ 2ρ gx = ρ aL x
aL
⇒x=
2g
x a
The difference in the heights of the liquid in the
two limbs is 2x. H
aL
⇒ 2x =
g
A B
Thus, option (A) is the correct answer. L

B
A rectangular container moves with an acceleration a along h θ C a
the positive direction as shown in the figure. What is the A
l
pressure at point A in excess of the atmospheric pressure?
(Take ρ as the density of the liquid).

(A) ρgh (B) ρal (C) ρ(gh + al) (D) Both (A) and (B)

Solution

This question pertains to the gauge pressure at point A. From the data given, the gauge pressure
at point A needs to be calculated.

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 04

The pressure at points B and C is,

P=
B P=
0 PC [Both the points are exposed to the atmosphere]
a B
tanθ =
g
h A θ C
P=
A PB + ρ gh
P= PC + ρ al l
A

Since (PA − PB ) represents the gauge pressure,

P=
A , guage P=
A − P0 PA=
− PB PA − PC = ρ gh= ρ al a
h a
⇒ = = tanθ
l g
Thus, option (D) is the correct answer.

Accelerated Motion in Vertical Direction

Assume that the acceleration a is in the upward direction

and consider a cylindrical shaped element of the liquid of
cross sectional area ΔS and length z.
Now,
The mass of the element is, m = ρ(zΔS)
The weight of the element is, W = mg
a
The pseudo force is, Fp = ma
If P1 and P2 are the pressures at the lower and upper
surface of the element, then P1 ΔS and P2 ΔS will be the
force on the lower face and on the upper face of the z
element, respectively. Thus, by balancing the force acting ΔS
on the chosen element, we get the following:

P22 (∆S ) + FPP + W = P11 (∆S )

P2 (∆S ) + FP + W = P1 (∆S ) P2
⇒ P22 (∆S ) + ma + mg = P11 (∆S )
⇒ P2 (∆S ) + ma + mg = P1 (∆S )
 P11 > P22
 P1 > P2
(P11 − P22 ) (∆S ) = ρ (∆S )z (g + a)
(P1 − P2 ) (∆S ) = ρ (∆S )z (g + a) z
⇒ P11 − P22 = ρ (g + a)z FP W
⇒ P1 − P2 = ρ (g + a)z
This is nothing but the gauge pressure during the upward motion of a
ΔS
vessel containing liquid and moving with an acceleration a.
P1

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 05

A U-shaped tube is shown in the figure containing a liquid

of density ρ. What is the difference in height between the
liquid columns in the vertical arms, if the tube is mounted on
a horizontal turntable rotating with angular speed ω as shown
in the figure?

Solution MAIN

Initially, the liquids in both the limbs are at the same level. r2 r1
Then, the U-shaped tube starts rotating about the hinge point
in an anti-clockwise direction with an angular speed ω, as h
shown in the figure.

The right and left limb are r1 and r2 distance away, respectively, Δh r2 r1
from the axis of rotation passing through the hinge. Consider h1
an element of mass dm and width dx at a distance x from the
axis of rotation.
h2 dx
dm

x
The tiny element has a centripetal acceleration ac acting
towards the hinge because every particle in the limb
undergoes circular motion about the axis of rotation when the P dm
P + dP
limb rotates.
ac

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 06

We know that along the direction of acceleration, the pressure

decreases and vice-versa. This implies that the pressure at ω
points A and B is greater than that at point C.
From the diagram,
PA > PC and, PB > PC [The pressure is more away from C ]
(P + dP )∆S = P ∆S + ρ (∆S )dx (aC ) r2 r1
⇒ P + dP = P + ρ (dx )ω x [ aC = ω x ] 2 2 h1
⇒ dP = ρ ω 2 x dx
dP h2 C dx
⇒ = ρ ω2x
dx B A
dm
Where the positive sign in the equation indicates that the
pressure increases away from the axis of rotation.
Now for the change in pressure from C to A,
dP = ρ ω 2 x dx
PA r1

∫ dP = ρ ω ∫ x dx
2

PC 0
r1
 x2 
[ P ]P
PA
= ρω  
2
C
 2 0
ω 2 ρ r12
PA − PC = ......(i )
2
Similarly for change inpressure from B to C is,
ω 2 ρ r22
PB − PC = ......(ii )
2
On subtracting equation (ii) from equation (i), we get,
ω2ρ
⇒ PA =
− PB (r12 − r22 )
2
We have, PA =PO + ρ gh1 and, PB =
PO + ρ gh2
ω2ρ
⇒ PO + ρ gh1 − PO − ρ=
gh2 (r12 − r22 )
2
ω 2
⇒ h1 −=
h2 (r12 − r22 )
2g
ω 2
∆h
I.e.,= (r12 − r22 )
2g

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 07

A liquid of density ρ is in a bucket that spins ω R

with angular velocity ω as shown in the figure.
Show that the pressure at a radial distance r
from the axis is,
ω 2 ρr 2
P= P0 +
2
Where, P0 is the atmospheric pressure.

Solution
ω
R
When the bucket starts spinning, the liquid attains the shape,
as shown in the figure known as paraboloid.
The following diagram represents the forces acting on the
particle over the surface and inside the liquid spinning.
= F=
Pseudo force p mω 2 x
Weight= W= mg
Equating the tangential forces acting on the free surface of the liquid,
W sin θ = Fp cos θ y
mg sin θ = mω 2 x cos θ A(x,y) Fp
dy ω x 2
θ
Fnet
= tan θ = W
dx g x
y
ω2 x θ
⇒ ∫ dy = ∫ x dx
0
g 0

ω x2 2
⇒ y=
2g
Now, the pressure at point P is given by, y P0
P= P0 + ρ gy P0

At x = r , P0
P0 A(x,y) Pr
x
ω 2r 2 P Q
P=
r P0 + ρ g r
2g
ω 2r 2
⇒ Pr = P0 + ρ
2

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