Fluid Mechanics (ME-337) (Spring 2024)

Lab Report Number: 02

“Hydrostatic Bench Apparatus Analysis”

Section: ME-14 (C)

Name CMS IDs

Abdullah Hamid 409519
Amna Saleem 413246
Muhammad Abdullah Zafar Ghauri 405642
Muhammad Ali Tariq 410890
Muhammad Ammar Amer 411927
Muhammad Azhaf Zeeshan 423683

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 School Of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, NUST
ME-337 Fluid Mechanics (Spring 2024)

Name: Muhammad Abdullah Zafar Ghauri CMS: 405642

Section: ME-14 (C) Group:

Experiment 2: Calculation of Buoyancy Force using

Hydrostatic Balancing Apparatus.
Objectives:

The main purpose of this experiment is to successfully calibrate and balance a Hydrostatic Balancing
Apparatus and hence utilizing it to calculate the buoyance force acting on a cylindrical body partially
immersed in a fluid (water). Moreover, understanding the Archimedes’ Principle to calculate the density
of water using the provided/present parameters and developing some relation between the buoyance
force and the density of fluid in which the body is being immersed.

Apparatus:
Needle Pointer

Pan

Hydrostatic
Hanger
Balance

Beaker

Variable
Masses

Figure 1 Hydraulic Balance Apparatus

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 • Hydrostatic Balance:
Hydraulic Balance is a type of instrument used for weighing substances
submersed in water. It also helps in determining the specific gravities of substances. This
equilibrium is strictly applicable when an ideal fluid is in steady horizontal laminar flow, and
when any fluid is at rest or in vertical motion at constant speed.
• Needle Pointer:
Needle pointer indicates the balance state of hydrostatic balance. It can be
balanced by clockwise rotating the knobs attached about the crowbar-shape rod. The apparatus
is balanced perfectly when the needle is in perfect middle position.
• Pans and Hangers:
Pans are used to load masses when the apparatus is perfectly balanced.
Hangers are used to suspend masses, amongst which one of the masses is submersed in water
stored in beaker.

Miscellaneous Instrumentations/Attachments:

• Vernier Callipers

Procedure:

• It was well-ensured in the beginning that the apparatus rested upon a smooth plane surface and
there existed no chances of disturbing the balance state.
• Since the apparatus was initially not balanced, it was done so in the first hand by rotating the
balancing knobs on both the left and right side of pans from where the cylinders were suspended
by means of hooks.
• The apparatus was successfully balanced and was ready to be used in experiment.
• Diameters of the cylinders were measured by using vernier callipers from three different
locations at different times and the length between two intervals on a beaker were also measured
to estimate the approximate readings present.
• Water was gradually added by using a beaker/jug, and it was well ensured that none of it entered
the cylinder (to disturb the readings) and the water was allowed to be added continuously until
the cylinder was partially submersed in water-filled beaker.

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 • Upon submersing, the balance achieved in the balance was disturbed. Small masses (varying
between 5g to 10g to 50g) were added on the top of the pans which served the purpose to attain
the previously achieved balancing state.
• Reading of the water level from the meniscus were taken immediately after the apparatus was
again balanced. It indicated the volume of water displaced and taken into account for further
deliberation.
• Concurrent with the pattern followed, the experiment was performed five different times which
meant to put forth more accurate and fine readings.
• Understanding and employing the Archimedes’ Principle the density of fluid and resultant
upthrust forces was successfully calculated.

Readings and Calculations:

No. Of Initial Final Upthrust Displaced Buoyant Density

Readings Volume(mL) Volume(mL) Force (N) Volume(m³) Force (N) (Kg/ m³)
1 500 540 0.49 0.00004 540 1375
2 550 600 0.69 0.00005 600 1300
3 600 655 0.59 0.000055 655 1363.63
4 650 700 0.98 0.000035 685 2100
5 710 760 1.23 0.00004 750 2600
Table 1 Initial Vales of Volumes and Corresponding Properties

Masses for Balance Upthrust Force Weight of Liquid Percentage Error

(kg) (N) displaced (%)
(N)
0.055 0.49 0.539 9.09
0.065 0.59 0.637 7.37
0.075 0.69 0.735 6.12
0.105 0.98 1.029 4.76
0.130 1.23 1.274 3.45
Table 2 Upthrust Forces and Variations

Sample Calculation:
Correspondence: Reading Number 02
Initial Volume = 550 mL = 0.00055 m3
Final Volume = 600 mL = 0.00060 m3
Final Displaced Volume = (0.00060 – 0.00055) m3
Final Displaced Volume = 0.00005 m3
𝟎.𝟎𝟔𝟓
Density = ρ = 𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟓 = 1300 kgm-3

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Upthrust Force = FTh = ρVdisg = (1300)(0.00005)(9.8)
Upthrust Force = FTh = 0.637 N
Upthrust Force = Weight Displaced
0.637−0.59
Percentage Error = ∗ 100
0.637

Percentage Error = 7.37%

Results and Discussion:

Employing the Hydrostatic Balance, the density of the fluid and the upthrust due to the weight of liquid
(water) displaced were determined successfully. Archimedes’ Principle, which actually serves the
ground for the aforementioned experiment itself states as, “A body immersed in a fluid, experiences an
upthrust force equal to the weight of fluid displaced.” This principle helped us to delve deep into the
concept of buoyancy which itself is rather fundamental when it comes to the equilibrium of a body
floating in water. The density and upthrust force were calculated by keeping in view the Archimedes’
Principle.

Itself the knowledge of density is crucial in understanding the behavior of fluid in different
circumstances and scenarios.

Conclusion:

In broader perspective, the experiment itself is fundamental, rather highly effective and simple which
is employed in calculating densities of fluids with rather some good extent of accuracy in the obtained
results. Analyzing the percentage error trend, we may conclude that it usually arises due to human
error and sometimes due to instrumental defects. For the following experiment, the meniscus of water
was approximated on the beaker owing to the fact that there were no observable demarcated readings
on the surface. However, by performing consecutive experiment the trend slowly decreased to about
3% at its lowest which indicates the fact that the last readings are of much dominant deliberation.

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