TITLE Hydrostatic Force on a Submerged Surface OBJECTIVE 1.

To experimentally locate the center of pressure of a vertical, submerged, plane surface 2. To experimentally verify the accuracy of the equation derived from hydrostatic theory THEORY

Figure 1 Apparatus for measuring the location of the center of pressure

All submerged surfaces experience a hydrostatic force. The point through which this force acts called the center of pressure. Hydrostatic theory shows that the center of pressure of the submerged area can be calculated using Eq 1. Where yR is the distance of the center of pressure from the fluid surface yc is the location of centroid of the submerged area and Ixc is the second moment of area.

Figure 2 Detailed nomenclature for locating the center of pressure for a flat surface of area w x D

(1) According to the Hydrostatic Theory, the hydrostatic force (F) on the face of the quadrant is calculated using Eq. 2. Where h is the vertical distance from the fluid surface to the centroid of the submerged area, is the specific weight of the liquid and A is the submerged area. FR= hA (2)

These two general equations can be used to develop equations specific to our experiment. Consider the situation when the end face of the apparatus is partially submerged (d < D). Eq. 2 predicts the hydrostatic force to be: FR= (3)

While Eq. 2 is always correct, we have only determined that Eq. 3 applies for those times in our experiment when the end face is partially submerged. It remains to be determined if this equation is suitable for situations when the end is totally submerged. Eq. 1 predicts the center of pressure lies below the water surface a distance (yR): (4) The distance yR can also be determined from the moment arm (yr + H) determined in the experiment: For the fully submerged end face, hydrostatic force can be calculated using:
(6)

(5)

and the center of pressure yR:

(7)

PROCEDURE 1. The length, L was measured to find the value for h. 2. The tank was leveled. The quadrant and everything on the balance arm and weight tray were dry. The counter balance weight was moved until the balance arm was horizontal: the empty weight tray was in position. The drain valve on the tank was closed and the tank was filled until the water level reached the bottom edge of the quadrant, forming the meniscus. The data were collected.

3. Mass was placed on the weight tray caused the balance arm to move out of equilibrium. Water was added to the tank until the balance arm returned to equilibrium. 4. The experiment was repeated using 50g increments of mass until the water level reached the maximum reading on the quadrants scale. 5. After finished collecting data, the tank was drained.
RESULT Apparatus design geometry: L 275 mm D 100 mm W 75 mm R1 200 mm Case Partially 1 Submerged 2 3 4 Fully 5 Submerged 6 7 8 9 Mass (g) 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 d (mm) 45 66 80 93 105 118 130 143 156 F (N) 0.745 1.602 2.354 3.182 4.047 5.003 5.886 6.842 7.799

1 mm 1 mm 1 mm 1 mm yr (exp) 0.181 0.168 0.172 0.170 0.167 0.162 0.160 0.158 0.156 yr (theo) 0.185 0.178 0.173 0.169 0.165 0.162 0.160 0.159 0.158 Error % 2.16 5.62 0.58 0.59 1.21 0.00 0.00 0.63 1.23 Comment

Calculation: i) For partially submerged: m = 50 g, d = 45 mm Hydrostatic force, yr (experimental) = Error % = | ii) For fully submerged: m = 250 g, d = 105 mm Hydrostatic force, yr (experimental) = yr (theoretical) = Error % = | = =
( )

= (9810) ( = = 0.181 m = 0.185 m | x 100% =|

= 0.745 N

yr (theoretical) = R1 - = 0.2 -

|x 100% = 2.16 %

= (9810) (0.1) (0.075) (0.105 - ) = 4.047 N = 0.167 m = 0.165 m |x 100% = 1.21 %

| x 100% =|

ANALYSIS h (mm) 22.5 33.0 40.0 46.5 52.5 59.0 65.0 71.5 78.0

Theoretical Value yR,th 0.185 0.178 0.173 0.169 0.165 0.162 0.160 0.159 0.158

Measured Value, yR,m 0.181 0.168 0.172 0.170 0.167 0.162 0.160 0.158 0.156

h (mm) 22.5 33.0 40.0 46.5 52.5 59.0 65.0 71.5 78.0

0.004 0.010 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.002

First moment of rectangular area, Centroid of submerged surface,

h (mm)
22.5 33.0 40.0 46.5 52.5 59.0 65.0 71.5 78.0 0.135 0.128 0.123 0.119 0.115 0.112 0.110 0.109 0.108