Taylor’s University Engineering Fluid Mechanics
School of Engineering
Tutorial 3 – Fluid Statics Part 2
Instructions:-
You are strongly recommend to attempt the tutorial questions before you come to the class as the purpose of
tutorial sessions is not lecturing but having practice to enhance your critical thinking and thus to have firm
understanding and knowledge.
Part 1: Conceptual Questions
1. Someone claims that the absolute pressure in a liquid of constant density doubles when the depth is
doubled. Do you agree? Explain.
2. You may have noticed that dams are much thicker at the bottom. Explain why dam are built that way?
3. Write down the equation to calculate the magnitude of the hydrostatic force acting on surface planes.
Define each term with its SI units.
a) State whether this equation is valid for all fluids. Explain.
b) Compare (<, =, >) the magnitudes of the hydrostatic forces, F1 and F2 for the following cases:
1) Same areas, same depths, but liquid 1 is water, liquid 2 is mercury. Sample answer F1<F2.
2) Same fluids, areas and depths, but the angle of the inclined wall of container 1 is 70 o, while
the angle of container 2 is 90o.
3) Same fluids and areas but the depth of centroid 1 is lower than the depth of centroid 2.
4) Rectangular planes with same area and same fluid. Plane 1 is oriented horizontally along the
side of the wall while plane 2 is oriented vertically along the side of the wall.
5) Same areas, liquids and depths, Tank 1 at the sea level and Tank 2 at 10 m altitude.
6) Same areas, liquids and depths, Tank 1 at the sea level and Tank 2 at 10 km altitude.
7) Same areas, liquid and depth, Tank 1 in your house and Tank 2 in a submarine 3 km below
the sea level.
8) Same areas, liquids and depths, Plate 1 is rectangular and Plate 2 circle.
9) Same liquids and depths, Plate 1 is circle and Plate 2 is semicircle.
10) Same areas and depths, Tank 1 is filled with drinkable water, Tank 2 is filled with distilled
water
4. We often hear people say that the seawater level will rise as a result of the melting of floating icebergs.
Ignoring the difference in density between seawater and freshwater, determine whether or not this
statement is true.
Part 2: Calculations
5. A swimming pool is 18 m long and 7 m wide. Determine the magnitude and location of the resultant
force of the water on the vertical end of the pool where the depth is 2.5 m.
[214.6 kN, 0.83 m from the base of the pool]
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Taylor’s University Engineering Fluid Mechanics
School of Engineering
6. On one side of a vertical lock gate of width 1.5 m the water depth is 1 m and on the other side 3 m,
as shown in Fig. Q6. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant horizontal force on the
gate.
Fig. Q6
[58.86 kN acts from right to left]
7. The rigid gate, OAB, shown in Fig. Q7 is hinged at O and rests against a rigid support at B. What
minimum horizontal force, P, is required to hold the gate closed if its width is 3 m? Neglect the
weight of the gate and friction in the hinge. The back of the gate is exposed to the atmosphere.
Fig. Q7 [436 kN]
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Taylor’s University Engineering Fluid Mechanics
School of Engineering
8. A 3-m-long curved gate into paper is located in the side of a reservoir containing water as shown in
Fig. Q8. Determine the magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical components of the force of the
water on the gate. Will this force pass through point A? Explain.
Fig. Q8 [294 kN, 328, kN, Yes]
9. Compute the resultant of the hydrostatic force and its location on the circular gate of diameter 2.4 m
as shown in Fig. Q9.
Fig. Q9
[146.5 kN, 10.4 cm below C]
10. A ferry boat is 4 m wide and 6 m long. When a truck pulls onto it, the boat sinks 4 cm in the water.
What is the mass of the truck?
[960 kg]
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Taylor’s University Engineering Fluid Mechanics
School of Engineering
11. The homogeneous timber AB shown in Fig. Q11 is 0.15 m by 0.35 m in cross section. Determine
the specific weight of the timber and the tension in the rope.
Fig. Q11 [6.27 kN/m3, 824 N]
12. A piece of metal weighs 50 N in air and 36 N in water and 41 N in an unknown liquid. Find
the densities of the following: a. The metal, b. The unknown liquid.
[3571 kg/m3, 643 kg/m3]
13. Determine the smallest base length b of the concrete gravity dam (Fig. Q13) that will prevent the dam
from overturning due to water pressure acting on the face of the dam. The density of concrete is
2400 kg/m3. Work the question using a 1-m width of the dam.
Fig. Q13 [4.11 m]
