Unit Two -141- Chapter four

Characteristics of Liquids at Rest

DENSITY (ρ)

• It is mass (M) per unit volume (Vol).

M
• ρ=
V

• Dimensional formula: ML-3

• Unit: Kg/m3

Factors affect on density:

• Kind of material: where the density increase by increase of atomic mass

and decrease the distance between molecules

• Temperature.

• Pressure (gases only)

N.B.:

• Since the temperature affects on volume, and density depends on volume;

therefore temperature affects on density.

• The volume is directly proportional to the temperature; and the density is

inversely proportional to the volume; therefore; the density is inversely

proportional to the temperature.

• Since the pressure affects on volume (in case of gases), and density

depends on volume; therefore pressure affects on density.

• The volume is inversely proportional to the pressure; and the density is

inversely proportional to the volume; therefore; the density is directly

proportional to the pressure.

• For gases: density affected by kind of matter, temperature and pressure.

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -142- Chapter four

• For solids and liquids: density affected by kind of matter and temperature

only.

Relative density (specific weight):

• It is the ratio between the densities of a material, to the density of water, at

the same temperature.

• It is the ratio between; the mass of a certain volume of material in a given

temperature, to the mass of the same volume of water in the same

temperature.

• Unit: relative density has no unit because it is a ratio.

• Dimensional formula: M0L0

N.B.:

• Relative density does not affect by temperature because it is a ratio

between two matters at the same temperature.

• Since the density of water is 1000 kg/m3, therefore: to convert the density

from gm/cm3 into kg/m3 it multiplies with 103, therefore the density in

gm/cm3 is treated like the relative density.

Application of density:

• Car’s battery: if the battery is discharged the density of the electrolyte

will decrease due to the reacting between sulphoric acid with the lead

plates, while, when the battery is charged the sulphate ions release and

the density of the electrolyte increase.

• The average density of blood (hematocrite) is between 1040 to 1060

Kg/m3, the increase of its density indicates excess of blood, while the

decrease of its density indicates decreases of blood concentration, which

diagnostic as anemia

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -143- Chapter four

• The average density of urine is about 1020, and the increase of its density

means Increase of urine crystals, where the salts excretion in urine.

N.B.:

• ρ (kg/m3) = 1000 x ρ (relative)

• ρ (kg/m3) = 1000 x ρ (gm/cm3)

• ρ (gm/cm3) = ρ (relative)

• ρ (gm/liter) = ρ (kg/m3)

Pressure inside a fluid and measurement

The pressure at a point:
Force F
P= =
Area A

• It is the average normal force acting on a unit surface area surrounded

this point.

• Dimensional formula: ML-1T-2

• Unit: Newton/meter2 (N/m2).

Enriched notes:

• At constant force, the pressure is inversely

proportional to the area. It means that the

pressure of woman’s pointed shoes is

much greater than the pressure of an

elephant.

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -144- Chapter four

Calculation of the pressure at a point inside liquid:

• At any point inside a liquid the pressure can act in any direction.

• Suppose that a horizontal plate (X) of area (A) is

placed at a depth (h) below the liquid surface.

• This plate acts as a base of liquid column having a

form of a parallelogram.

• The force exerted by the liquid on the plate is equal

to the weight of liquid column of height (h) and

uniform cross sectional area (A)

• The volume of liquid = A h

• The weight (W) = Mg = volρg = Ahρg

Force Ahgρ
P= = = hgρ
Area A

• The total pressure P = Pa + hρg

• Where Pa the atmospheric pressure.

Remarks

1. Pressure inside liquid acts in all directions.

2. Force resultant from the pressure acts perpendicular to

the surface area.

3. Pressure inside liquid increase by

increasing the depth.

4. All points that lie in the same plane inside a

liquid have the same pressure. (G.R)

5. The liquid filling the vessel to the same height in each section whatever the

geometrical shape if the points A, B, C and D are in the same horizontal plane.

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -145- Chapter four

Balance of liquid in U shaped tube:

When we pour a quantity of oil, to water in U shaped

tube.

The two points A and B are lie in the same horizontal

plane .So,

The pressure at A = Pa & the pressure at B = Pb

Pa + h1 ρ1 g = Pa + h2 ρ2 g

h1 ρ 1 = h2 ρ 2

Remarks:

1. The height of the liquid doesn't depend on the radius of the tube.

2. We can determine the relative density of any liquid.

h 1ρ1 = h 2ρ2
h1 ρ
= 2
h2 ρ1
Explain an experiment to determine the relative density of oil by using of
u-shaped tube:

1. Put a suitable amount of water in a u-shaped

tube.

2. Pour a suitable amount of oil in one side of

the u-shaped tube.

3. Measure the height of water and oil above

the separated surface.

4. Calculate the relative density of oil from the

h water
relation ρ =
h oil

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -146- Chapter four

The atmospheric pressure

It is equivalent to the pressure arising from the weight of mercury column of

height (h = 0.76 m) and cross sectional area of one square meter.

Torricelli barometer:

Evangelista Torricelli
Born: 15 Oct 1608 in Rome, Italy
Died: 25 Oct 1647 in Florence, Tuscany

• It consists of along glass tube about one meter length and filled

completely with mercury.

• Consider two points A and B in the same horizontal plane.

• Point A lies in the surface of mercury so the pressure at it equal the

atmospheric pressure

• Point B lies under the mercury surface of the tube, therefore the pressure

acts on it equals to the pressure resultant of the mercury inside the tube

and the negligible amount of

mercury vapor over the

mercury (Torricelli vacuum).

Pa = P b

Pa = hρg

Pb = hρg + 0

Then Pa = 0.76. x 13600 x 9.8 = 1.013 x 105 N / m2

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -147- Chapter four

The units of atmospheric Pressure:

Pa = 1.013 x 105 N / m2 (Pascal)

Pa = 1.013 bar

Pa = 0.76 m.Hg

Pa = 76 Cm.Hg

Pa = 760 mm. Hg (Torr)

Pa = 1 atm.

Enriched notes:

• The ear dram affected by pressure, therefore at high altitude, it is preferred

to showing gum, to compensate the pressure at the two sides of the ear dram

by the help of Eustachian tube.

Manometer:

• It consists of a U shaped tube that contains a

suitable quantity of liquid (Hg or Water).

• One side of the tube is attached to the

container of gas pressure (P) to be measured,

while the other side is open.

If we take 2 points A, B in the same horizontal plane

PA = PB

P = Pa ± hρg

Where:

P is the pressure of the gas

Pa is atm. pressure

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -148- Chapter four

hρg is pressure resultant from the difference of height of the liquid in the two

branches

N.B.:

• If the opened column is higher than the attached one, P = Pa + hρg

• If the opened column is lower than the attached one, P = Pa - hρg

Applications:

1. In medicine presser can be indicator for patient health, therefore blood

pressure must be measured from time to time, where the normal systolic

pressure is 120 torr, and that for diastolic is 80 torr.

2. Since the pressure is inversely proportion to the area, therefore it is

preferred to increase the pressure inside the car tyr to decrease the area of

contact with the rode.

Pascal’s Principle

Pascal, Blaise
(1623-1662)
French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist.

Pascal’s principle states:

“A pressure applied to a liquid enclosed in a container is transmitted

undiminished to every portion of the liquid and the walls of the container”.

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -149- Chapter four

Applications of Pascal's Principle

Hydraulic Press:

The small piston is of cross

sectional area (a) and the large one is of

cross sectional area (A).

The space between the two

pistons is filled with suitable

incompressible liquid.

If a pressure is exerted on the small piston, the same pressure will affect the

liquid. and will be transmitted completely through the liquid to the lower surface of

the large piston.

f F
P= =
a A
F A y
η= = = 1
f a y2

Where:

η is: The mechanical advantage of the hydraulic press.

N.B.:

• Pascal principle is not applied on gases because gases are compressible.

Mechanical advantage:

• It is the ratio between the area of the large piston and the area of the small

one.

• It is the ratio between the force resultant on the large piston to that acts on

the small one.

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -150- Chapter four

• It is the ratio between the distances moved by the small piston to that

moved by the large one.

Enriched notes:

• Pascal principle consider as a base idea for many of application, such as:

Hydraulic brake, Hydraulic lift, Caterpillar, also it used to design the

diving suit.

Archimedes principle (Floatation law)

Archimedes
About 287 BC in Syracuse, Sicily. At the time Syracuse was an independent Greek city-state
with a 500-year history.

Let us consider an imaginary

cylindrical volume (Vol) of a liquid enclosed in

a container.

The cylinder is of cross sectional area

(A) and height (h). F3 F4

There are forces acting on it:

1. The horizontal forces (F3 = F4) cancel each other

2. In the vertical direction:

• The weight of the liquid by the volume (Vol) is Vsρsg and acts downwards.

W= Vsρ sg

• The liquid exerted a force (Fb) acting upward, resultant from the two forces

F1 and F2

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -151- Chapter four

Fb = F2 - F1 = A P2 – A P1 = Ah2ρg – Ah1ρg

Fb = (h2 - h1) A ρ g

Fb = h A ρ g

Fb =Vim ρL g

Fb = ML g

Fb = weight of the displaced liquid

If the two vertical forces are in equilibrium (in case of floatation and

suspended)

W = Fb

Mg = Vsρ lg

Vsρ sg = Vol ρ L g

The relation between the weight of a body in air and in liquid:

The net force acts on an immersed body in a liquid is the difference between

the two vertical forces (real weight or weight at air and buoyant force or up thrust

force):

F = Fb – W in air

Vol ρL g – Vol ρs g

= (ρl – ρs) Vol g

So; the three different cases

of the immersion or flotation:

1. When ρ s > ρ l

W > Fb

The object sinks.

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -152- Chapter four

W' (apparent weight) = W – Fb

2. When ρ l > ρ s

The object floats.

Since the object will float, so the immersed volume will decrease, decreasing the

weight of displaced liquid; which decrease the up-thrust force until it reach

equilibrium case and the two forces become equal:

W = Fb

3. When ρ s = ρ l

The object is in equilibrium and it is suspended in liquid.

And also:

W = Fb

Archimedes principle:

"A body immersed wholly or partially in a fluid (liquid or gas)

experiences an up-thrust (buoyant) force in the vertical direction equal to the

weight of the volume of the liquid displaced by the body"

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -153- Chapter four

Float Suspend Sink

ρs < ρL ρs = ρL ρs > ρL

Balance Un balance

• Apparent weight >

zero

• Weight of solid >

weight of displaced
Apparent weight = zero
liquid
Weight of body = weight of displaced liquid = buoyant
• Weight of solid >
force
buoyant force
ρs g Vs = ρL g VL
• Weight of displaced
Buoyant force = Weight liquid = buoyant force
Fb = ρs g Vs • Fb = ρL g VL

• Buoyant force <

weight

• Fb < ρs g Vs

Buoyant force = the weight of the displaced liquid

F b = ρL g V L

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -154- Chapter four

N.B.:

When an object is attached to the bottom of the container with a thread, or

hanging upward. It will be in Equilibrium State and the forces will be in equilibrium.

It means that the summation of forces upward = the summation of forces

downward

In case of attaching to the bottom

ΣF↓=ΣF↑
Ft W Fb
W + Ft = Fb

Ft = Fb – W (lifting force)

In case of hanging

ΣF↑=ΣF↓
Ft Fb W
Fb + F t = W

Ft = W - Fb (Ft = apparent weight)

Enriched notes:

There is a similarity between Archimedes principle and Newton’s thirds law,

where the body acts on the liquid by force equal to the weight of body, therefore the

liquid acts on the body by force called up thrust force, which equal in magnitude and

opposite in direction causing the body to be suspended, while if the up thrust force is

greater than the weight of the body, the body will move upward, and if the up thrust

force is less than the body, the body will sink. And it is clear that the up thrust force

may be greater, equal or less than the weight of the body, because the up thrust force

affected by the density of the liquid.

Summary 2008/2009
Unit Two -155- Chapter four

Application on Flotation law:

• Water therapy depends on flotation law, where the up thrust

force is approximately equal to the weight therefore the

patient need no much effort to use his muscles.

• Weightless training can be done in containers full of liquid has

density approximately equal to that of human body, therefore

the up thrust force compensate the weight of body.

• Submarine can dives or floats by changing its weight, where

filling special tanks with air decrease its weight than up thrust

force casing the flotation, and filling that tanks with water

increase the weight than the up thrust force casing the sinking

of the submarine.

• What happen with the submarine is similar to that in diver’s

suit, also the diver use compressed air in breathing to

compensate the outer pressure at their lungs

Enriched notes:

Archimedes principle applied on gases too, and that is the cause of rise up of

balloons, and the up thrust force will be equal to the weight of displaced air, but the

volume of balloon will not equal to the volume of displaced air because gases are

comprisable.

Summary 2008/2009