RELATIVE

EQUILIBRIUM
OF LIQUIDS
Relative equilibrium of liquid
A condition where the whole mass of liquid including the vessel in which
the liquid is contained, is moving at uniform accelerated motion with
respect to the earth, but every particle of liquid have no relative motion
between each other.

Two cases of relative equilibrium:

 Rectilinear translation (Moving Vessel)
 Rotation (Rotating Vessel)

Note that if a mass of liquid is moving with constant speed, the conditions are the same as static
liquid in the previous sections.
• Rectilinear translation (Moving Vessel)
 Horizontal Motion
 Inclined Motion
 Vertical Motion

• Rotation (Rotating Vessel)

 Open Cylindrical Vessel
 Closed Cylindrical Vessel
Horizontal Motion
If a mass of fluid moves horizontally along a straight line at constant
acceleration a, the liquid surface assume an angle θ with the horizontal.

For any value of a,

the angle θ can be
found by considering
a fluid particle of
mass m on the
Fluid mass at constant velocity surface.

The forces acting on the particle:

• Weight, W = mg
• Inertia force or reverse effective force, REF = ma
• Normal force N which is the perpendicular
reaction at the surface.
From the force polygon:

where: W = weight of the fluid

REF = reverse effective force
N = normal force
a = acceleration
g = acceleration due to gravity
SAMPLE PROBLEM

An open rectangular tank mounted on a truck is 5m long, 2m wide and 2.5 m high is filled
with water to a depth of 2 m. (a) What maximum horizontal acceleration can be imposed on
the tank without spilling any water and (b) determine the accelerating force on the liquid
mass? (c) If the acceleration is increased to 6 m/s2, how much water is spilled out?
SAMPLE PROBLEM
(a) and (b) (c)

(c)
SAMPLE PROBLEM

A closed horizontal cylindrical tank 1.5 m in diameter and 4 m long is completely filled with gasoline
(sp.gr. = 0.82) and accelerated horizontally at 3 m/s2. Find the total force acting at the rear wall and at
the front wall of the tank. Find also the accelerating force on the fluid mass.
Inclined Motion
If a mass of fluid being accelerated up an incline with an angle α from
horizontal, the horizontal and vertical components of inertia would have
the respective components.

In inclined motion,
the angle of surface
inclination, α, is
different from the
fluid inclination, θ.
From the force polygon:

Use (+) sign for upward motion and (-) sign for
downward motion.
SAMPLE PROBLEM

A vessel containing oil is accelerated on a plane inclined 15° with the horizontal at 1.2 m/s2.
Determine the inclination of the oil surface when the motion is (a) upwards, and (b)
downwards.

(a) (b)

α
α
Vertical Motion
When fluid vessels are transported vertically, the forces acting on a fluid
particle will only be vertical.
Vertical Motion
  Where p is the pressure at
any depth “h” from the
liquid surface of the vessel
which is moving upward or
downward.

Use (+) sign for upward motion and (-)

sign for downward motion.

Note: a is positive if acceleration and negative for

deceleration.
SAMPLE PROBLEM

An open tank containing oil (sp.gr. 0.8) is moving vertically. Determine the pressure 3 m
below the surface if the motion is (a) upward with constant velocity, (b) upward with an
acceleration of 8 m/s2, (c) upward with a deceleration of 8 m/s2, (d) downward with an
acceleration of 8 m/s2, (c) downward with a deceleration of 8 m/s2.
 END OF
PRESENTATION.