PROGRAM : EM220 SARJANA MUDA KEJURUTERAAN MEKANIKAL

KURSUS : THERMOFLUIDS LAB 1 (MAKMAL THERMOBENDALIR 1)

KOD KURSUS : MEC454
PENSYARAH : MOHAMAD TOLHA BIN SUBHI

LAPORAN MAKMAL

TAJUK UJIKAJI: HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE ON PLANE SURFACE

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DATE OF SUBMISSION: 22/4/2021

1.0 TITLE: HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE ON PLANE SURFACES

2.0 OBJECTIVES: 

i. To determine experimentally the magnitude of the force of pressure (hydrostatic

force) and its point of action (centre of pressure) on a plane surface.

ii. To compare the experimental results with the theoretical values.

3.0 INTRODUCTION:

Hydrostatic pressure is, the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium due to the force of
gravity. A fluid in this condition is known as a hydrostatic fluid. The resulting force caused
by the pressure loading of a liquid acting on submerged surfaces is known as hydrostatic
forces. In fluid mechanics, the calculation of the hydrostatic force and the position of the
centre of pressure are basic topics. The resulting hydrostatic pressure force acts at the centre
of pressure, which is a point on the immersed surface. Adding weight and then filling the tank
with water to the point where the apparatus was in equilibrium. so we can calculate the force
on the flat surface using the given equations.

4.0 PROCEDURE

Part A: Vertical plane surface (α = 0º) Counterbalancing the water vessel

1. Using the detent (2), set the water vessel (1) to an angle α = 0º.

2. Use a rotating slider (3) to counterbalance the unit. The stop pin (4) should be centered in
the hole.

Note: Remove water, the appended weight (7) and the rider (6) during this counterbalancing
process.

Measurement

1. Adjust the lever arm to any desired position. Keep track of the lever arm (the distance from
the rider to the center of rotation of the water vessel).

2. Record the value of the added weight (7).

3. Fill the water vessel (1) with water until the unit is balanced (the stop pin (4) is in the
center of the hole). Keep track of the vessel's water level (5).

4. Repeat steps 4–5 for a total of at least 5 appended weight values.

Part B: Inclined plane surface (α ≠ 0º) which is at angle 20o

1. To counterbalance a different angle (α ≠ 0º) at angle 20o, repeat steps 1 and 2 of the
counterbalancing process.

2. For measurement, repeat steps 3–6 in part A.

5.0 APPARATUS

3
2
4
8
6

1) Water vessel
2) Detent
3) Rotating slider
4) Stop pin
5) Water surface
6) Rider
7) Appended weight
8) Angle measurement

6.0 RESULTS

6.1 DATA
6.1.1 EXPERIMENTAL VALUE

6.1.2 THEORETICAL VALUE

PART A (VERTICAL PLANE, α=0o)

PART B (INCLINED PLANE, α=20o)

6.1.3 PERCENTAGE ERROR
6.2 GRAPHS

Graph 1.0 Hydrostatic Force vs Centre of Pressure (Part A)

Graph 1.1 Hydrostatic Force vs Centre of Pressure (Part B)

 Hydrostatic Force (Experiment and Theory) vs
Appended Weight
7
6
Hydrostatic Force (N)

5
4
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4 5
Appended Weight (N)

Force exp (N) Force theo (N)

Graph 2.0 Hydrostatic Force (Experiment & Theory) vs Appended Weight (Part A)

Hydrostatic Force (Experiment and Theory) vs

Appended Weight
7
6
Hydrostatic Force (N)

5
4
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4 5
Appended Weight (N)

Force exp (N) Force theo (N)

Graph 2.1 Hydrostatic Force (Experiment & Theory) vs Appended Weight (Part B)
 6.3 SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

 In experimental calculation, there are two conditions of water level that need to be
considered before performing any computation.
 The two conditions are partially submerged and fully submerged
 If the water level in the vessel is less than or equal to 100 mm (s <=100) then the
formula to calculate the hydrostatic force and centre of pressure are as follow:

(1) s = s2 – s1, where s is the height of water level in vessel,

s
(2) ℓ = 200− where ℓ is the vertical distance from rider to the point of
3 cos α
hydrostatic force,

¿ 2s
(3) h = where h¿ is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centroid of
3
the submerged plane surface,

L
(4) F= F where L is the length of rider and F G is the appended weight
l G

 If the water level in the vessel is more than 100 mm (s >100) then the formula to
calculate the hydrostatic force and centre of pressure are as follow:

(5) s = s2 – s1
2
(100)
l=150+
(6)
12( s
cos α
−50 )
¿
(7) h =( l−200 ) cos α + s

L
(8) F= F
l G
Part A (Appended weight = 1N)

(1) s=s 2−s 1

¿ 60−0
¿ 60 mm , s ≤ 100

s
(2) l=200−
3 cos α
60
¿ 200−
3 cos 0 °
¿ 180 mm

¿ 2s
(3) h =
3
2(60)
¿
3
¿ 40 mm

L
(4) F= F
l G
200
¿ ( 1)
180
¿ 1.111 N
Part B (Appended weight = 5N)

(5) s=s 2−s 1

¿ 148−12
¿ 136 mm , s >100

2
(100)
l=150+
(6)
12( s
cos α
−50 )
¿ 150+¿ ¿
¿ 159 mm

¿
(7) h =( l−200 ) cos α + s
¿ ( 159−200 ) cos 20°+136
¿ 97 mm

L
(8) F= F
l G
200
¿ ( 5)
159
¿ 6.289 N
 For theoretical calculations, the formula used to calculate the hydrostatic force is

F=ρg h A

where
ρ is the mass density of liquid (in this case the liquid is water, 1000 kg/m3),
g is the gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s2),
h is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centroid of the submerged
plane surface
A is the submerged area of the plane (in this case the plane is rectangle)

 The centre of pressure can be calculated by using formula

¿ I G ( sin θ )2
h= +h
hA

where
¿
h is the vertical distance from the liquid surface to the centre of pressure,

I G is the moment of inertia of the plane of surface about its centroid, G,

θ=90 °−α ,

The moment of inertia of a rectangle about x-axis is given below:

3
bh
( I G)X=
12

s
* For partially submerged plane (s <= 100), h= sin θ
2
* For fully submerged plane (s >100), h=s−¿
* In calculation we convert s and b in m
* given the height of rectangle is 100 mm and width (b) is 75 mm
* For partially submerged, the height of rectangle is equal to the value of s
Part A (Appended weight = 1N)

s = 60 mm ( s <=100 )
2
A=0.0045 m
0.06
h= sin 90 °
2
¿ 0.03 m
F=ρg h A
¿(1000)(9.81)(0.03)(0.0045)
¿ 1.32 N

b h3
I G=
12

(0.075) ( 0.06 )3
¿
12

¿ 1.35 ×10−6
2
I ( sin θ )
h= G¿
+h
hA
−6 2
(1.35 ×10 ) ( sin 90 )
¿ +(0.03)
(0.03)(0.0045)
¿ 0.04 m / 40 mm
Part B (Appended weight = 5N)

s = 136 mm ( s > 100)

2
A=0.0075 m
h=s−¿
¿ 0.136−¿
¿ 0.089 m
F=ρg h A
¿ ( 1000 ) ( 9.81 )( 0.089 )( 0.0075 )
¿ 6.55 N

b h3
I G=
12
3
(0.075) ( 0.1 )
¿
12
−6
¿ 6.25 ×10
2
I G ( sin θ )
¿
h= +h
hA
−6 2
(6.25 ×10 ) ( sin 70 )
¿ +(0.089)
(0.089)( 0.0075)
¿ 0.097 m / 97mm

7.0 DISCUSSIONS: (INDIVIDUAL)

From the graphs obtained above, we can see that the experimental value is
slightly different compared to the theoretical value. We might consider there are some
errors occurred during observation that affected the result. To obtain more accurate
result, some precautions have to be done during the experiment. First of all, to prevent
parallax error, the observer should make sure his eye level is always perpendicular to
the apparatus scale during measurement. To minimize the effect of random error, this
experiment should be repeated several times to obtained average value which is more
accurate. Also, inclined plane should be used as a medium during adding the water.
This is because the inclined plane can minimize the effect of turbulent flow and
prevent the phenomenon of forming water droplet and air bubbles. This experiment
should also be carried out in a closed area which does have minimum ventilation to
obtain more accurate result. It is important for us to gain the knowledge of the
magnitude of hydrostatic forces and the center of pressure because we might apply it
later when we enter the industry as a professional engineer.
8.0 IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT/SUGGESTIONS FOR THE EXPERIMENT

There are some recommendations for this experiment to get the best outcome. Thus, it will
prevent and to not keep parallax error and some error when doing this experiment. First,
make sure the air conditioning that near to the experiment place were turn off. Temperature is
also important because of its influence on water chemistry. Second, we need to check
whether the weight is clear from dust and oil. The oil and dust presence will interrupt the
original weight and the weight density. Thus, the measurement will be different. Lastly, to
avoid parallax error, the eye of observer must be parallel to the scale reading. When taking a
reading in an experiment from a scale, it is extremely important to ensure that the eye, object
or marker and scale are all in a straight line, perpendicular to the scale.  This is to ensure that
the measurement being taken is as close as possible to the actual value.

9.0 MAKE AVAILABLE RELEVANT INFORMATION RELATED TO

THERMOFLUID TECHNOLOGIES CORRESPONDING TO LABORATORY
WORKS CARRIED OUT

9.1 EXPLANATION OF POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS

 The hydrostatic pressure is one of the most important aspect in our life where numerous of
things that we use and see are applied with it. The first example is a water tank that has been
built at high position such as at our house. The reason of why the water tank is placed at a
very high position is simply because of the hydrostatic pressure. As the high of the water
increased, the hydrostatic force also increased. This way, the water at the bottom part of the
water tank will be pushed to the house without needing any additional mechanical pumps.
Another example that shares the same principle as the water tank is water tower and also the
iv-drip bag at the hospital. Next, the construction of a submarine is also heavily calculated
based on the hydrostatic force. This is due to the submarine dive deep into the ocean where
the pressure is very high. So, by applying the knowledge of hydrostatic pressure, it allows
smooth operation of a submarine to submerged in the ocean and also handle the potential
damage from the pressure of the water towards the body of the submarine. Last example is
the construction of water dam. The wall of water dam at the bottom is thicker than the top.
This is due to the high-water pressure created at the bottom part of the water compared to the
top where the pressure is lesser. Thus, in order to withstand the high pressure, engineers built
the wall of the dam thicker at the bottom.
Figure shows tank Figure shows iv drip bag

Figure shows water dam

9.2 ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE GAINED THROUGHOUT THE      

EXPERIMENT AND RELATE AVAILABLE INFORMATION TO THE

LAB CONDUCTED.

From this experiment, the hydrostatic pressure that acting at the centre of pressure
counteracts the weight in the mass pan and these two are directly related with each
other. As the appended weight increased, the moment of the pivot also increased
even the moment arm remained the same. So, in order to create a longer moment
arm for the hydrostatic pressure of the water to counteract the force of the weight,
the level of the water must decrease. By dropping the water level, the centre of
pressure on the face of the water vessel thus creates a larger moment to negate the
increasing appended weight.
10.0 CONCLUSIONS

The obtained result showed slightly different value between experimental and
theoretical value of the hydrostatic force. This happen might be a result of errors
occurred in the experimental procedures or apparatus. Hydrostatic pressure increases
in proportion to depth measured from the surface because of the increasing weight of
a fluid exerting downward force from above. There were no real discrepancies
between theoretical and experimental value in this experiment. The fluid pressure was
hydrostatic once the balance arm was horizontal. The water level needed to be
lowered, in order to counteract the increased weight in the mass pan. Even though it
was only a minor inconvenience, the method of removing and adding water from the
control volume to ensure a horizontal balance arm was tedious and difficult at some
times.

11.0 REFERENCES

i. Czubai, A., Sopko, N., Patel, A., Ahmari, H., & Kabir, S. M. I. (2019, August 14).
Experiment #1: Hydrostatic Pressure. Applied Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual.
https://uta.pressbooks.pub/appliedfluidmechanics/chapter/experiment-1/.
ii. Scribd. (n.d.). Hydrostatic Pressure Lab Report. Scribd.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/302621591/hydrostatic-pressure-lab-report.
iii. Natalie Ulza Engineer at Nolayulza eng. Sdn .Bhd Follow. (n.d.). Hydrostatic force.
SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/NurulAdha2/hydrostatic-force-29685528.
iv. MuhammadSRaniYah Follow. (n.d.). Fluid Mechanic Lab - Hydrostatic Pressure.
SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/MuhammadSRaniYah/fluid-mechanic-lab-
hydrostatic-pressure-209033996.
v. Munis, J. R. (2011). Hydrostatic Pressure. Just Enough Physiology, 19–26.
https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780199797790.003.0003