Subject: Fluid Mechanics Lab.

Report: Hydrostatic Force on a plane surface.

Done by: Jubran Abdul Aziz Ali.

Supervised by/
Prof. Dr. Abdul-Malik Momin
Eng. Hussam AL-khatib

AC.NO. 202474030

Sana'a 2024
 Contents

Hydrostatic Force on a plane surface _________________________________________________________ 3

1-Abstract __________________________________________________________________________ 3
2-Introduction _______________________________________________________________________ 3
3-Objective _________________________________________________________________________ 3
4-Methodology _______________________________________________________________________ 3
Components and equipment: ___________________________________________________________ 3
Equipment Description: _______________________________________________________________ 3
Procedures:________________________________________________________________________ 4
5-Results:___________________________________________________________________________ 5
-Tabular & Graphical Data & Calculation ___________________________________________________ 5
6-Conclusion: ________________________________________________________________________ 8
7-References ________________________________________________________________________ 8
 Hydrostatic Force on a plane surface
1-Abstract
In this experiment we find the hydrostatic force that acts on a plane surface by using Hydrostatic pressure
transmitters also find the relation between the Hydrostatic Force and depth by filling the tank.

2-Introduction
Hydrostatic force is a branch of physics that deals with the characteristics of fluids at rest and especially with
the pressure in a fluid or exerted by a fluid on an immersed body compare. Hydrostatic forces are the resultant
force caused by the pressure loading of a liquid acting on submerged surfaces. Calculation of the hydrostatic
force and the location of the center of pressure are fundamental subjects in. t's calculated using the
formula P = ρ · g · h, where 'P' represents the pressure, 'ρ' represents fluid density, 'g' is the acceleration
due to gravity, and 'h' is the height of the fluid column above the point in question. There are two primary
types of HST systems: open-circuit and closed-circuit.

3-Objective
Determine the Hydrostatic force on the plane surface.
Determine the line of action of the Hydrostatic force.
Determine the relation between Hydrostatic force and depth.
4-Methodology
Components and equipment:
1. Armfield F1-12 Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus.

2. A jug, and.

3. Calipers or rulers, for measuring the actual dimensions of the quadrant.

Equipment Description:
The equipment is comprised of a rectangular transparent water tank, a fabricated quadrant, a balance arm, an
adjustable counter-balance weight, and a water-level measuring device.
The water tank has a drain valve at one end and three adjustable screwed-in feet on its base for leveling the
apparatus. The quadrant is mounted on a balance arm that pivots on knife edges. The knife edges coincide
with the center of the arc of the quadrant; therefore, the only hydrostatic force acting on the vertical surface
of the quadrant creates moment about the pivot point. This moment can be counterbalanced by adding weight
to the weight hanger, which is located at the left end of the balance arm, at a fixed distance from the pivot.
Since the line of actions of hydrostatic forces applied on the curved surfaces passes through the pivot point,
the forces have no effect on the moment. The hydrostatic force and its line of action (center of pressure) can
be determined for different water depths, with the quadrant’s vertical face either partially or fully submerged.
A level indicator attached to the side of the tank shows when the balance arm is horizontal. Water is admitted
to the top of the tank by a flexible tube and may be drained through a cock in the side of the tank. The water
level is indicated on a scale on the side of the quadrant.

Fig 1: Hydrostatic pressure.

Procedures:
In this experiment, the hydrostatic force and center of pressure acting on a vertical surface will be determined
by increasing the water depth in the apparatus water tank and by reaching an equilibrium condition between
the moments acting on the balance arm of the test apparatus. The forces which create these moments are the
weight applied to the balance arm and the hydrostatic force on the vertical surface.

Theory:
In this experiment, when the quadrant is immersed by adding water to the tank, the hydrostatic force applied
to the vertical surface of the quadrant can be determined by considering the following:
• The hydrostatic force at any point on the curved surfaces is normal to the surface and resolves through
the pivot point because it is located at the origin of the radii. Hydrostatic forces on the upper and lower
curved surfaces, therefore, have no net effect – no torque to affect the equilibrium of the assembly
because the forces pass through the pivot.
• The forces on the sides of the quadrant are horizontal and cancel each other out (equal and opposite).
• The hydrostatic force on the vertical submerged face is counteracted by the balance weight. The
resultant hydrostatic force on the face can, therefore, be calculated from the value of the balance weight
and the depth of the water.
• The system is in equilibrium if the moments generated about the pivot points by the hydrostatic force
and added weight (=mg) are equal, i.e.:
Mg x L= F x y (1)
where:
m : mass on the weight hanger,
L : length of the balance arm (Fig 1)
F : Hydrostatic force, and
y : distance between the pivot and the center of pressure (Fig1).
Then, calculated hydrostatic force and center of pressure on the vertical face of the quadrant can be compared
with the experimental results.
-Hydrostatic Force
The magnitude of the resultant hydrostatic force (F) applied to an immersed surface is given by:
F=PA= ρ g h (by) (2)
𝑦
h=2
1
Fth =2 ρ g b 𝑦 2 (3)

where:
P: pressure at centroid of the immersed surface,
b: area of the immersed surface,
y : centroid of the immersed surface measured from the water surface,
ρ : density of fluid.
g : acceleration due to gravity.
 L =27.5 cm b= 7 cm

a=10cm
h''
‫اكتب المعادلة هنا‬. h'
mg d=10cm y

Fig 2
+∑ Mo=0
𝑦
M g l – Fexp (a+d- ) =0
2
𝑚𝑔𝑙
Fexp = 𝑦 (4)
a+d−
2

-Line of action
X
Experimental: 2 y
1 G
+∑ Mo=0 IGc = 12 b 𝑦 3 3

-F x h'' + mgL = 0 C
Ixx = I Gc + A 𝑑 2
𝑚𝑔𝑙
h''exp = (5) 1 𝑦
𝐹 = 12 b 𝑦 3 b y ( 2)2
Fig.3
Theoretical: 1 1
= 12 b 𝑦 3 + 4 𝑦 3
∑ Msurface= f h'
b 𝑦 3 + 3𝑏𝑦 3
ρ g Ixx = f h' = 12

b 𝑦3 b 𝑦3
ρ𝑔 =
h' = 1
3 3
ρ g b 𝑦2
2

2
h' = 3 y

h''= h' + a + d-y (6)

5-Results:
-Tabular & Graphical Data & Calculation

Table1: experimental results.

Filling tank Draining tank Average
M(kg) y(mm) M(kg) y(mm) M(kg) y(mm)
0.050 42 0.200 96 0.050 44
0.070 55 0.170 85 0.070 55
0.100 66 0.150 80 0.100 65.5
0.120 73 0.120 71 0.120 72
0.150 82 0.100 65 0.150 81
0.170 86 0.070 55 0.170 85.5
0.200 96 0.050 46 0.200 96
𝑦1+𝑦2 42+46
Average = 2 = 2 = 44
Table 2: calculation result of the force and h''
Mass(kg) Y average Fexp N Fth N h''exp (cm) h''th (cm) Force h''error(cm)
(mm) error N
0.050 44 6.7449 6.6048 19.9780 18.5333 2.1213 7.795
0.070 55 9.4455 10.3757 19.9725 18.16 8.9699 9.9807
0.100 65.5 13.49710 14.7156 19.9672 17.8160 8.2803 12.0745
0.120 72 16.1992 17.7811 19.9640 17.6 8.8965 13.4318
0.150 81 20.2535 22.5042 19.9595 17.3 8.2477 15.3728
0.170 85.5 22.9566 25.0741 19.9572 17.15 8.4474 16.3685
0.200 96 27.0148 31.0109 19.952 16.8 12.8861 18.7619

Calculation:
1
Fth =2 ρ g b 𝑦 2 ρ𝑤 = 1000 kg/m3
1
Fth =2 x 1000 x 9.8 x 0.7 x 0.044 = 6.64048 N.
𝑚𝑔𝑙
Fexp = 𝑦
a+d−
2

0.05 𝑥 103 𝑋 9.8 𝑋 0.275

Fexp = 0.044 = 6.74491 N.
10+10−
2

𝑚𝑔𝑙 0.05 𝑥 103

h''exp = = = 19.197802 cm .
𝐹 6.74491

h''th= h' + a + d-y

2 2
h' = 3 y = x 0.044 = 0.029333 m.
3

h''th= 0.029333 + 0.10 + 0.10-0.044= 0.185333m = 18.5333cm.

Fth−Fexp 6.6048−6.7449
Force error = x 100 = x100 = 2.1213.
Fth 6.6048

hth−hexp 18.5333−19.9780
h'' error= x 100 = x100 =7.795 .
hth 18.5333

‫قيم ص‬
35 31.0109
30
25.0741
25 22.5042

20 17.7811
F th

14.7156
15
10.3757
10 6.6048

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
F EXP

Fig 4: Fth – Fexp plot

 ‫قيم ص‬
18.8
18.5333
18.6
18.4 18.16
18.2
18 17.816
h'' th

17.8 17.6
17.6
17.3
17.4 17.15
17.2
17 16.8
16.8
16.6
19.95 19.955 19.96 19.965 19.97 19.975 19.98
h'' exp
Fig 5: h''th – h''exp plot

‫قيم ص‬
19.98 19.978

19.975 19.9725

19.97 19.9672
h'' exp

19.964
19.965
19.9595
19.96 19.9572

19.955 19.952

19.95
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

F exp

Fig 6: h''exp -Fexp plot

h''th (cm)
18.8 18.5333
18.6
18.4 18.16
18.2
18 17.816
17.8 17.6
17.6
17.3
17.4 17.15
17.2
17 16.8
16.8
16.6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Fig 7: h''th - Fth plot

6-Conclusion:
The experiment successfully determined the hydrostatic force acting on a plane surface and its line of action.
Through theoretical calculations and experimental data, the relationship between hydrostatic force and depth
was validated. The results showed that hydrostatic force increases with depth due to the linear relationship
between pressure and depth, as predicted by the formula . Despite some discrepancies between experimental
and theoretical values, likely due to measurement errors or apparatus limitations, the overall trends matched
theoretical expectations. The calculated and experimental values for the line of action also showed reasonable
agreement, confirming that hydrostatic principles can predict the location of the center of pressure. Future
improvements could include more precise calibration of equipment and accounting for external variables
affecting measurements to minimize errors.

7-References
1- https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/engineering/engineering-fluid-mechanics/hydrostatic-
force/
2- https://studentopportunityfund.barnsley.ac.uk/results/browse/fetch.php/engineering_fluid_mechanics
_crowe_9th_edition.pdf