MECHANICAL AND MAINTENANCE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

FOURAH BAY COLLEGE-UNIVERSITY OF SIERRA LEONE

SECOND EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BEng. WITH HONOURS IN MECHANICAL AND MAINTENANCE AND CIVIL
ENGINEERING

FIRST SEMESTER 2023- RESIT EXAMINATION

MECHANICS OF FLUIDS I-MENG 215

TIME ALLOWED: 3 HOUR.-ANSWER ANY FIVE QUESTIONS

NAME…………………………………….REGISTRATION NUMBER………………………………………

All questions carry equal marks-Extra credit will be awarded for neat presentations including diagrams

Q1. (a) State the characteristics of pressure in fluids.

(b) With a simple illustration distinguish between absolute, atmospheric and gauge pressures.

(c) A hydraulic press has a ram of 𝟏𝟐𝟓𝒎𝒎 diameter and plunger of 𝟏𝟐. 𝟓𝒎𝒎 diameter. What force is required on
the plunger to raise a mass of 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒌𝒈 on the ram? If the plunger has a stroke of 𝟐𝟓𝟎𝒎𝒎, how many strokes
would be necessary to lift the weight 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒎𝒎? Neglecting losses and assuming that the weight moves
continuously. What power would be required to drive the plunger if the weight is to be lifted in 𝟏𝟐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒔?

Q2. Fig.Q3 below shows a compound manometer with heads of manometric fluid columns denoted by the
letters 𝒂 to 𝒆 and 𝒙. By considering pressure intensity equality at levels XX and YY in the mercury
columns; derive an equation in terms of the specific weights of the fluids and the heights of their columns.
for, 𝒑𝑨 − 𝒑𝑩 . Verify your results by algebraically summing pressure intensities from A to B or vice versa.
Hence calculate the pressure intensity difference between the points A and B. given that, 𝒂 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟖𝒎,
𝒃 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟐𝒎, 𝒄 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟖𝒎, 𝒅 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝒎 and 𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟔𝒎. The specific weight values are 𝝎𝒘 = 𝟏𝟎𝒌𝑵𝒎−𝟑
for water, 𝝎𝒎 = 𝟏𝟑𝟔𝒌𝑵𝒎−𝟑 for mercury and 𝝎𝒐 = 𝟖. 𝟓𝒌𝑵𝒎−𝟑 for oil.

Fig.Q3

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Q3. (a) Convert atmospheric pressure value given as 𝟕𝟔𝟎𝒎𝒎𝑯𝒈 to

(i) Pascals/Newton per metre squared (Pa or Nm-2)

(ii) Head in millimeter of water (mmH2O)

(b) The temperature of the earth’s atmosphere drops 𝟏𝟎𝑲 for every 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒎 of elevation above the earth’s
surface. If the air temperature at ground level is 𝟏𝟓𝒐 𝑪 and the pressure is 𝟕𝟔𝟎𝒎𝒎 𝑯𝒈. Assuming air to
be an ideal gas and processes obtain under adiabatic conditions; determine the following.

(a) The temperature lapse rate

(b) The ratio of the specific heat capacities (𝜸)
(c) The elevation at which the pressure will be 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝒎𝒎 𝑯𝒈.

Q4. A rectangular lamina of 𝟏. 𝟐𝒎 by 𝟎. 𝟗𝒎 is immersed in water so that the distance of its top edge measured
vertically below the free surface varies from 𝟎. 𝟔𝒎 to 𝟏. 𝟓𝒎.

(a) Make a two-dimensional sketch of the lamina in the water with an auxiliary view of the lamina for the
two possible orientations with respect to the incline.
(b) The two possible angles of inclination of the lamina to the horizontal free surface of the water.
(c) Hence show that; regardless of orientation, the hydrostatic pressure on the lamina is the same, and so
is the distances of their centre of action from the free surface of the water.

Q5. (a) Distinguish between the specific weight and specific gravity of a substance.

Gate AB in Fig. Q5 is 𝟏. 𝟓𝟐𝒎 wide and opens to let fresh water out when the ocean tide is dropping. The hinge at
A is 𝟎. 𝟔𝟏𝒎 above the freshwater level. At what ocean level 𝒉, will the gate open? Neglect the weight of the gate.
The specific gravity of fresh water in this case is given by 𝑺 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟐𝟓 and same for the salt water .

Fig. Q5

Q6. A sluice gate shown in Fig. Q6 consists of a quadrant of a circle of radius 𝟏. 𝟓𝒎 pivoted at its centre O. Its centre
of gravity is at G as shown. When the water is level with the pivot O. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the

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 resultant pressure on the gate due to the water and the turning moment required to open the gate. The width of gate
is 𝟒𝒎 and it has a mass of 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒌𝒈.

Fig. Q6

𝒙𝟐
Q7. The face of the dam shown in Fig. Q7 below is curved according to the relation 𝒚 = 𝟐.𝟒 where 𝒚 and 𝒙
are in metres. The height of the water surface above the horizontal plane through A is 𝟏𝟓. 𝟐𝟓𝒎. Calculate
the resultant pressure due to the water acting on a unit width of the dam and determine the position of the
point B at which the line of action of this force cuts the horizontal plane through A.

Fig. Q7

Q8. (a) Illustrate pressure intensity distribution on (i) horizontal and (ii) vertical plane surfaces immersed in
static masses of liquids.

(b) The Fig.Q8b below shows a tank containing water and liquid of specific gravity 0.9 up to height
0.25 m and 0.5 m relatively. Calculate using pressure intensity distribution diagram.

(i)The total pressure on the side of the tank

(ii) The position of the centre of pressure from one side of the tank which is 15 m wide. Take Take 𝝆 =
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝐤𝐠𝐦−𝟑 for water and 𝒈 = 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏𝑵𝒌𝒈−𝟏

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 Fig.Q8b
FORMULA SHEET.

For air under adiabatic conditions.

𝒑 𝒑
= 𝑹𝑻 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝜸 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕
𝝆 𝝆

𝒅𝑻 𝒈 𝟏−𝜸
= ( )( )
𝒅𝒛 𝑹 𝜸
𝜸
𝜸 − 𝟏 𝒈(𝒛𝟐 − 𝒛𝟏 ) (𝜸−𝟏)
𝒑𝟐 = 𝒑𝟏 [𝟏 − ( ) ]
𝜸 𝑹𝑻𝟏

For a fluid under gravity,

𝒑 = 𝝆𝒈𝒉 = 𝝎𝒉

For surfaces immersed in static masses of fluids such that 𝜽 is the angle the plane of the surface makes
with the free surface of the fluid.

̅
𝑭 = 𝝆𝒈𝑨𝒚

𝑰𝑮 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜽
𝒉= ̅
+𝒚
𝑨𝒚̅

𝜽 = 𝟗𝟎𝒐 , for vertically immersed surfaces

𝜽 = 𝟎𝒐 , for horizontally immersed surfaces

For curved immersed surfaces

𝑭𝑹 = √{𝑭𝟐𝑯 + 𝑭𝟐𝑽 }

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 𝑭𝑯
𝜽 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 { }
𝑭𝑽

̅ 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑭𝑽 = 𝒎𝒈 = 𝝆𝒈𝑨′𝒍
𝐹𝐻 = 𝝆𝒈𝑨𝒚

Except otherwise stated, take

𝒈 = 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏𝑵𝒌𝒈−𝟏, 𝝆 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝑲𝒈𝒎−𝟑 for water, 𝑹 = 𝟐𝟖𝟕𝑱𝒌𝒈−𝟏 𝑲−𝟏 for air

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