FOURAH BAY COLLEGE-UNIVERSITY OF SIERRA LEONE

MECHANICAL, MAINTENANCE & CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS-MECHANICS OF FLUIDS 1-

MENG 215
MODEL ANSWERS AND MARKING SCHEME –FIRST SEMESTER 2024 TEST 1
TOTAL SCORE OF 60 MARKSFOR THE 3 QUESTIONS –Partial credits is awarded by the examiner at
his/her discretion

Q1. Data
𝑧1 = 𝟎 (at sea level), 𝑧2 = 𝟖𝟎𝟎𝒎
𝑝1 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟑𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑵𝒎−𝟐 , 𝑇1 = 150 𝐶 = 15 + 273 = 𝟐𝟖𝟖𝑲 (at sea level),
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟖𝟓𝒌𝒈𝒎−𝟑 , 𝑔 = 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏𝒎𝒔−𝟐 , 𝑅𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 𝟐𝟖𝟕𝑱𝒌𝒈𝒌𝒈−𝟏 , 𝛾 = 𝟏. 𝟒 (for air),

Required
(i) 𝒑𝟐 at 𝑧2 , assuming air is incompressible
(ii) 𝒑𝟐 at 𝑧2 , assuming pressure variation follows an isothermal law.
(iii) 𝒑𝟐 at 𝑧2 , assuming pressure variation follows an adiabatic law.

Consider the pressure variation situation Fig. Q1 below;

Fig. Q1
(i) For air being incompressible, it implies that its density is constant (𝜌 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡).
For pressure 𝑝, variation with elevation 𝑧, it has been established that;
𝑑𝑝
= −𝜌𝑔
𝑑𝑧
𝑑𝑝 = −𝜌𝑔𝑑𝑧
Integrating in the limits;
For 𝑧 = 𝑧1 , 𝑝 = 𝑝1 and for 𝑧 = 𝑧2 , 𝑝 = 𝑝2 .
 𝑝2 𝑧2
∫ 𝑑𝑝 = −𝜌𝑔 ∫ 𝑑𝑧
𝑝1 𝑧1

[𝑝]𝑝𝑝21 = −𝜌𝑔[𝑧]𝑧𝑧12  𝑝2 − 𝑝1 = 𝜌𝑔(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 )

Hence;
𝒑𝟐 = 𝑝1 − 𝜌𝑔(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ) = 1.0139 × 105 − 1.285 × 9.81(800 − 0) = 𝟗𝟏, 𝟑𝟎𝟓. 𝟑𝟐 𝑵𝒎−𝟐

= 𝟗𝟏. 𝟑𝟎𝟓𝟑𝟐𝒌𝑵𝒎−𝟐

(ii) Assuming pressure variation follows an isothermal law, it has been established that for any two
points (1) and (2) in the atmosphere;
𝑝2 𝑔(𝑧2 −𝑧1 )
−{ }
=𝑒 𝑅𝑇
𝑝1
𝑔(𝑧2 −𝑧1 )
−{ }
𝑝2 = 𝑝1 𝑒 𝑅𝑇
9.81(800−0)
−{ }
𝒑𝟐 = (1.0139 × 105 )𝑒 287×288

= 𝟗𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟔. 𝟏𝟒𝟏𝑵𝒎−𝟐 = 𝟗𝟐. 𝟐𝟎𝟔𝟏𝟒𝟏𝒌𝑵𝒎−𝟐

(iii) Assuming pressure variation follows an adiabatic law, it has been established that for any two
points (1) and (2) in the atmosphere,
𝛾
( )
𝑝2 𝛾 − 1 𝑔(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ) 𝛾−1
= [1 − ( )( )]
𝑝1 𝛾 𝑅𝑇

𝛾
( )
𝛾 − 1 𝑔(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ) 𝛾−1
𝑝2 = 𝑝1 [1 − ( )( )]
𝛾 𝑅𝑇

1.4
( )
1.4 − 1 9.81(800 − 0) 1.4−1
= (1.0139 × 105 ) [1 − ( )( )]
1.4 287 × 288

𝒑𝟐 = 𝟗𝟐, 𝟎𝟖𝟓. 𝟐𝟖𝟖𝑵𝒎−𝟐 = 𝟗𝟐. 𝟎𝟖𝟓𝟐𝟖𝟖𝒌𝑵𝒎−𝟐

Q1total marks=20
Q2. (a) The three basic characteristics of pressure in fluids are
(i) Pressure at any point in a fluid acts or can be transmitted equally in every direction
undiminished.
(ii) Pressure in a fluid under gravity increases with depth and decreases with elevation relative to a
given datum. If 𝑝 is pressure in a fluid of density 𝜌 , 𝑧 the elevation relative to datum and 𝑔
acceleration due to gravity, it can be established that;
𝑑𝑝
= −𝜌𝑔
𝑑𝑧

(iii) Pressure at the same level in a given fluid is the same (constant).
(b)
Data
Load on ram 𝑾 = 𝟓𝟎𝒌𝑵, Diameter of ram 𝑫 = 𝟖𝟎𝒎𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖𝒎 ,Movement of ram = 𝟒𝟎𝒄𝒎
= 𝟎. 𝟒𝒎
Diameter of plunger 𝒅 = 𝟐𝟎𝒎𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝒎, stroke of plunger 𝒙 = 𝟒𝟎𝒎𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝒎.
Take 𝒈 = 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏𝒎𝒔−𝟐

Required
(i) Force on arm 𝑭
(ii) Number of strokes required to move the 𝟓𝟎𝒌𝑵 load 𝟒𝟎𝒄𝒎

Fig. Q2b
(i) Considering pressure equality at level XX in the hydraulic fluid (under the ram and plunger),

At the ram on the left-hand side;

𝑊 50000
𝑝𝑋𝑋 = = = 9947183.94 𝑁𝑚−2
𝐴 𝜋(0.08)2
( )
4
At the plunger on the right-hand side;
𝐹𝑝 𝐹𝑝
𝑝𝑋𝑋 = = = 3183.10𝐹𝑝
𝑎 𝜋(0.02)2
( )
4
Now;
𝑝𝑋𝑋 = 3183.10𝐹𝑝 = 9947183.94

9947183.94
𝐹𝑝 = = 3125𝑁
3183.10

𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐹 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑖𝑣𝑜𝑡 = 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐹𝑝 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑖𝑣𝑜𝑡

𝐹(0.4 + 0.05) = 𝐹𝑝 (0.05)

 0.45𝐹 = 3125(0.05)

3125 × 0.05
𝑭= = 𝟑𝟒𝟕. 𝟐𝟐𝑵
0.45

(ii) For one stroke of plunger, volume 𝑣 of hydraulic fluid displaced is shown in Fig. Q2bi. and
given by;

Fig. Q2bi

𝜋𝑑2 0.022
𝑣= 𝑥 = 𝜋( ) (0.04) = 4𝜋 × 10−6 𝑚3
4 4
So for 𝑛 −strokes, total volume of fluid displaced is given by plunger is given by;

𝑛𝜋𝑑2
𝑛𝑣 = 𝑥 = (4𝜋 × 10−6 𝑛)𝑚3
4

Volume of hydraulic that moves ram by 𝑌 = 40𝑐𝑚 = 0.4𝑚 is shown in Fig. Q2bii below and given by

Fig. Q2bii

𝜋𝐷 2 0.082
𝑉𝑅 = 𝑌 = 𝜋( ) (0.4) = 6.4𝜋 × 10−4 𝑚3
4 4
Neglecting loses, for n strokes of plunger

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑙𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑐 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑦 𝑌 = 40𝑐𝑚

4𝜋 × 10−6 𝑛 = 6.4𝜋 × 10−4

6.4𝜋 × 10−4
𝒏= = 𝟏𝟔𝟎 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒔
4𝜋 × 10−6

Q2total marks=20
Q3. (a) (i) The specific gravity of a substance also referred to as its relative density defined as the ratio of the density of
the substance to that of the density of pure water under standard/normal conditions.

𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒(𝜌𝑠 )
𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 (𝑆𝑠 ) =
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟(𝜌𝑤 )

(iii) The specific weight of a substance is defined as the weight of the substance per unit volume. It
is commonly denoted by 𝜔 and given by;

𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 (𝑊) 𝑀𝑔 𝑀
𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 (𝜔) = = = ( ) 𝑔 = 𝜌𝑔
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑉) 𝑉 𝑉

(b). consider Fig.Q3 below.

X X

Fig.Q3

To show from first principle that for the manometer in Fig.Q3 above;
𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐵 = 𝜔𝑜 𝑎 + 𝜔𝑤 (𝑏 − 𝑎)
Let the pressure in both limbs of the manometer at level XX be 𝑝𝑋𝑋 .
In the left limb pressure at A is;
𝑝𝐴 = 𝜔𝑤 𝑦 + 𝜔0 𝑎 + 𝑝𝑋𝑋 … … … … … . (𝑖)

In the right limb pressure at B is;

𝑝𝐵 = 𝜔𝑤 (𝑎 + 𝑦 − 𝑏) + 𝑝𝑋𝑋 … … … … . . (𝑖𝑖)
 Now subtracting equation (𝑖𝑖) from equation (𝑖), we have;
𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐵 = {𝜔𝑤 𝑦 + 𝜔0 𝑎 + 𝑝𝑋𝑋 } − {𝜔𝑤 (𝑎 + 𝑦 − 𝑏) + 𝑝𝑋𝑋 }
= 𝜔𝑤 𝑦 + 𝜔0 𝑎 + 𝑝𝑋𝑋 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑎 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑦 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑏 − 𝑝𝑋𝑋
𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑩 = 𝜔0 𝑎 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑎 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑏 = 𝝎𝒐 𝒂 + 𝝎𝒘 (𝒃 − 𝒂)

By the pressure increase with depth and decrease with elevation method, we have,
For pressure at A; start from B;
𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝𝐵 − {𝜔𝑤 (𝑎 + 𝑦 − 𝑏)} + 𝜔𝑜 𝑎 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑦
𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐵 = −𝜔𝑤 𝑎 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑦 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑏 + 𝜔𝑜 𝑎 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑦
𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑩 = 𝜔0 𝑎 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑎 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑏 = 𝝎𝒐 𝒂 + 𝝎𝒘 (𝒃 − 𝒂)

Alternatively, for pressure at B, start from A;

𝑝𝐵 = 𝑝𝐴 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑦 − 𝜔𝑜 𝑎 + {𝜔𝑤 (𝑎 + 𝑦 − 𝑏)}
𝑝𝐵 = 𝑝𝐴 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑦 − 𝜔𝑜 𝑎 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑎 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑦 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑏
𝜔𝑜 𝑎 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑎 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑏 = 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑝𝐵
𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑩 = 𝜔0 𝑎 − 𝜔𝑤 𝑎 + 𝜔𝑤 𝑏 = 𝝎𝒐 𝒂 + 𝝎𝒘 (𝒃 − 𝒂)

Given that;
𝑎 = 0.6𝑚, 𝑏 = 1.5𝑚
𝜔𝑜 = 0.85 × 1000 × 9.81 = 8338.5𝑁𝑚−3
𝜔𝑤 = 1 × 1000 × 9.81 = 9810𝑁𝑚−3

𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑩 = 8338.5(0.6) + 9810(1.5 − 0.6)

= 5003.1 + 8829 = 𝟏𝟑𝟖𝟑𝟐. 𝟏𝑵𝒎−𝟐 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟏𝒌𝑵𝒎−𝟐
Q3total marks=20