EXAMPLES

A downward force of 100N is applied to the small piston A with a diameter of 50cm in the hydraulic lift
system shown. What is the upward force exerted by the large piston B with a diameter of 2m? What is the
mechanical advantage of hydraulic lift? If the input force of 100N pushes the small piston down by 2m,
how high will the large piston B rise?
𝑃𝑎 = 𝑃𝑏
𝐹𝑎 𝐹𝑏
=
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑎 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑏
100𝑁 𝐹𝑏
=
𝜋 0.5 2 𝜋 2 2
4 4
𝐹𝑏 = 1600𝑁

𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝑀𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑑𝑣𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 =
𝐹𝑖𝑛
1600𝑁
= = 16
100𝑁
A downward force of 100N is applied to the small piston A with a diameter of 50cm in the hydraulic lift
system shown. What is the upward force exerted by the large piston B with a diameter of 2m? What is the
mechanical advantage of hydraulic lift? If the input force of 100N pushes the small piston down by 2m,
how high will the large piston B rise?

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑎 = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑏
𝐴𝑎 ∗ 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ𝑎 = 𝐴𝑏 ∗ 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ𝑏
0.5² 2²
𝜋 2𝑚 = 𝜋 𝑑𝑏
4 4
𝑑𝑏 = 0.125𝑚
What is the water pressure on the sea bottom at a depth of 6500m? The specific gravity of sea water is
assumed to be 1.03.

𝑝 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ
𝑝 = 1000𝑘𝑔/𝑚³(1.03)(9.81𝑚/𝑠²)(6500𝑚)
𝑝 = 65,677,950 Pa or 65.68 MPa
Obtain the pressure p at point A for the figures below
𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝𝑜 + 𝜌𝑔𝐻 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝𝑜 − 𝜌𝑔𝐻

𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝𝑜 + 𝜌′ 𝑔𝐻 ′ − 𝜌𝑔𝐻
Starting from point B, measure the difference in pressure between the two containers.
 𝑝𝐵 + 𝛾3 ℎ3 + 𝛾2 ℎ2 − 𝛾1 ℎ1 = 𝑝𝐴
Subtracting 𝑝𝐵 both left and right side of equation

𝑝𝐵 + 𝛾3 ℎ3 + 𝛾2 ℎ2 − 𝛾1 ℎ1 − 𝑝𝐵 = 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐵

𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐵 = 𝛾3 ℎ3 + 𝛾2 ℎ2 − 𝛾1 ℎ1

Note: 𝛾 = 𝜌𝑔
Determine the absolute pressure of the gas in the bulb.

𝑃𝐴 + 𝛾𝑤 ℎ𝑤 − 𝛾ℎ𝑔 ℎℎ𝑔 − 𝛾𝑤 ℎ𝑤 = 0

𝑃𝐴 = 13.6 9.81𝑘𝑁/𝑚³ 0.02𝑚 + 9.81 0.05𝑚 − 9.81 0.17𝑚

𝑃𝐴 = 1.49𝑘𝑃𝑎
 ANSWER
𝐹1 = 498.75 𝑁
 ANSWER
𝐹𝐵 = 1800 𝑙𝑏𝑠
Calculate the pressure difference between pt. A and pt. B.
 ANSWER
𝑃𝐴 − 𝑃𝐵 = 73.58 𝑃𝑎
Calculate the pressure difference between pt. A and pt. B.
 ANSWER
𝑃𝐵 − 𝑃𝐴 = 27.55 𝑘𝑃𝑎
Calculate the pressure difference between pt. A and pt. B.
 ANSWER
𝑃𝐵 − 𝑃𝐴 = 27.7 𝑘𝑃𝑎
Find the hydrostatic force on the vertical square plate, 2m on each side, submerged in water 2m deep from
the water surface. Find the location of the force acting on the plate.

𝐹 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐 𝐴
𝐹 = 9.81𝑘𝑁/𝑚³(2𝑚 + 1𝑚)(2𝑚)(2𝑚)
𝐹 = 117.72𝑘𝑁

𝐼𝑥
𝑦𝑅 = + 𝑦𝑐
𝑦𝑐 𝐴
(2𝑚)4
( 12 )
𝑦𝑅 = + (2𝑚 + 1𝑚)
(2𝑚 + 1𝑚)(2𝑚)(2𝑚)
𝑦𝑅 = 3.11𝑚
Find the hydrostatic force on the triangular plate as shown. The plate is submerged in water 3m deep from
the water surface. Find the location of the force acting on the plate.

𝐹 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐 𝐴
2 1
𝐹 = 9.81𝑘𝑁/𝑚³(3𝑚 + (9𝑚))( )(6𝑚)(9𝑚)
3 2
𝐹 = 2383.83𝑘𝑁

𝐼𝑥
𝑦𝑅 = + 𝑦𝑐
𝑦𝑐 𝐴
6𝑚 (9𝑚)3
( ) 2
𝑦𝑅 = 36 + 3𝑚 + 9𝑚
2 1 3
(3𝑚 + 3 (9𝑚)) 2 (6𝑚)(9𝑚)

𝑦𝑅 = 9.5𝑚
Will the 90kN gate stay in place or will it fall if ℎ1 is 1m and ℎ2 is 3m?
Hydrostatic Force acting on the gate.
𝐹𝑅 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐 𝐴
3𝑚
𝐹𝑅 = (9.81𝑘𝑁/𝑚³)(1𝑚 + 1.5𝑚)( )(1𝑚 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝)
sin 45°
𝐹𝑅 = 104.05 𝑘𝑁
Location of the hydrostatic force from the water surface.

𝐼𝑥
𝑦𝑅 = + 𝑦𝑐
𝑦𝑐 𝐴
3𝑚
1𝑚 ³
sin 45°
12 2.5𝑚
𝑦𝑅 = +
2.5𝑚 3𝑚
( )(1𝑚)( ) sin 45°
sin 45° sin 45°

𝑦𝑅 = 3.96𝑚

𝑀𝑜 = 90 1.5𝑚 − 104.05 1.70𝑚

= −41.89𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
Which means that the gate will stay in place
A 6 ft diameter drainage conduit of the type shown is half full of water at rest, Determine the magnitude
and line of action of the resultant force that the water exerts on a 1-ft length of the curved section BC of
the conduit wall.
We first isolate a volume of fluid bounded by the curved
section BC, the horizontal surface AB, and the vertical
surface AC, as shown. The volume has a length of 1 ft. The
forces acting on the volume are the horizontal force, 𝐹1 ,
which acts on the vertical surface AC, the weight, 𝒲, of the
fluid contained within the volume, and the horizontal and
vertical components of the force of the conduit wall on the
fluid, 𝐹𝐻 and 𝐹𝑉 , respectively. The magnitude of 𝐹1 is found
from the equation
𝐹1 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐 𝐴
3
𝐹1 = 62.4𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡³ 𝑓𝑡 3𝑓𝑡 ∗ 1 𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝 = 281𝑙𝑏
2
𝐹𝐻 = 𝐹1 = 281𝑙𝑏
𝑊 = 𝛾𝑉
𝐹𝑉 = 𝑊 = 441𝑙𝑏
𝜋 3𝑓𝑡 ²
𝑊 = 62.4𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡³ 1𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝 = 441𝑙𝑏
4
𝐹𝑅 = 281 2 + 441 ² = 523𝑙𝑏
Find the reaction of the curved surface due to the fluid as shown in the figure.
 𝐹1 = 𝛾ℎ𝑐 𝐴
6𝑓𝑡
𝐹1 = 62.4𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡³ 7𝑓𝑡 + 6𝑓𝑡 ∗ 1 𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝 = 3744 𝑙𝑏
2

𝐹2 = 62.4𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡³ 13𝑓𝑡 6𝑓𝑡 ∗ 1 𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝 = 4867.2 𝑙𝑏

𝑊 = 𝛾𝑉
𝜋 6𝑓𝑡 ²
𝑊 = 62.4𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡³ 1𝑓𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑝 = 1764.32 𝑙𝑏
4
 𝐹𝑉 = 0

𝐹𝑉 + 𝑊 = 𝐹2
𝐹𝑉 = 3102.88 𝑙𝑏

𝐹𝐻 = 0

𝐹𝐻 = 𝐹1
𝐹𝐻 = 3744 𝑙𝑏

𝐹𝑅 = 3744 ² + 3102.88 ² = 4862.65 𝑙𝑏