2/1/11

CVEN-3313 Theoretical Fluid Mechanics Module#1: Hydrostatic Force on a Plane Surface

1. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this module is to investigate hydrostatic forces on a plane surface under partial and full submersion. 2. DESCRIPTION The apparatus shown in Figure 1 will be used. It consists of a quarter circle block attached to a cantilevered arm with a rectangular surface on the other end. The pivot point on the arm corresponds to the center of radius of the block. With no water in the tank, and no weights on the scale, the arm is horizontal. As weights are added one by one to the scales, water can be added to the tank so that the hydrostatic force balances the weights and bring the arm back to horizontal.

(Mactual)

Definitions a : height of the rectangular surface of the quarter circle block (m) b : width of the rectangular surface of the quarter circle block (m) g : gravity (=9.81m/s2) k : distance from the pivot point to the bottom of the rectangular surface (m) h : depth of water to the bottom of the rectangular surface (m : not to the bottom of the tank) L : distance from the pivot point to the weights (m)

w : specific weight of water (=9810 N/m3) Mactual : actual mass used to balance the hydrostatic force from experiment (kg) Mtheoretical : theoretical mass necessary to balance the hydrostatic force from calculations (kg)

3. PROCEDURE Use the level bubble on the base to horizontally level the entire apparatus. Begin with no water in the tank and no weights on the scale. Adjust the counterweight so that balance arm is horizontal. Add the 50g hook on the scale and hang all nine of the 50g masses. Add water to the tank until the arm is above the horizontal line. Open the valve on the orifice and let the water flow out of the tank until the arm comes back to horizontal, and close the valve. Measure and record the height of the water (h) in your table. Remove one 50g mass and open the valve until the arm reaches the horizontal line again. Record h. Continue removing 50g masses and recording respective heights until all the masses and the hook have been removed. Note on your table when the plane surface is no longer fully submerged. 4. RESULTS & ANALYSIS 1) Derive equations for the mass (Mtheoretical) that balances the hydrostatic force for the partially submerged case. (i.e. h less than a) Mtheoretical = f(a, b, g, k, h, L, w) 2) Derive equations for the mass (Mtheoretical) that balances the hydrostatic force for the fully submerged case. (i.e. h greater than a) Mtheoretical = f(a, b, g, k, h, L, w) 3) Compute Mtheoretical for each value of h you measured. Tabulate h, Mactual, Mtheoretical, and other data you obtained. 4) Plot Mactual vs h and Mtheoretical vs h on the same graph (h on the x-axis.) What does the shape of the graph indicate about the hydrostatic force for each case (partially and fully submerged)? 5) Plot Mactual vs Mtheoretical .

5. DISCUSSION 1) Compare and discuss actual and theoretical results. Are they similar? If there is any discrepancy, what are possible sources of error? 2) State qualitatively why an incremental change in mass (i.e. 50 g) for the fully submerged case results in a different change in height, h, than the same incremental change in mass for the partially submerged case. 3) In this experiment, only the forces on the plane surface were considered. Do the hydrostatic forces on the curved surface of the quarter-circle block affect the measurement? State why or why not. 4) A quarter-circle block was used in this experiment. Suppose the quarter-circle block is replaced by the quarter-ellipse shown in Figure 2. For a given depth h, would the required Mactual be larger or smaller than the quarter circle case? State qualitatively why.

(Mactual)

Figure 2 Apparatus and dimensions for discussion question 4.

6. MISCELLANEOUS Type your lab report, as discussed in recitation, completely answering all questions in this handout. Equations do not have to be typed if you have difficulty (you can hand write them neatly). You should attach your calculations in an Appendix for completeness. Please specify all variables and units. Remember units in graphs and tables. You will be graded as much for neatness and presentation as you will for correctness.
Lab Reports are due February 10, 2011, at 12:30 p.m. (in Lecture)

Extra Credit Problem Refer to Figure 2. Suppose the water level were such that the plane face was fully submerged (i.e. perhaps about where the letter k is printed.) Qualitatively, what would be the sense of the moment about the pivot, considering all fluid forces? Explain why.

Experimental Data Height h in mm Mactual in grams