Lab #2: Hydrostatic Pressure

Section 5, Group 25

Kuzdikbay Ainur 201437516

Mamesh Zhamilya 201435112
Maulen Sayakhat 201555835
Mazhit Birzhan 201486367
Meiirkhan Zhanerke 201480823
Meirambek Zere 201519309

Date of experiment: 10.02.2017

Date of submission: 15.02.2017

1. Introduction:
Background explanation
Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure that is exerted by a fluid in a state of equilibrium
due to the force of gravity. In uniform static fluid it varies only with vertical distance and
is independent of the shape of the container. In this experiment, hydrostatic thrust
exerted by this pressure and its location on the surface will be determined.

For this purpose there has been designed Hydrostatic Pressure apparatus (Figure 1)
which consists of quadrant that is mounted on balance arm pivoted on knife-edges
coinciding with quadrant center. The forces passing through the line of action of the
knife edges do not exert any turning moment and therefore have no net effect. In
addition, the forces on the sides are cancel out since they have equal in magnitude but
in opposite direction. This means that the hydrostatic pressure on the vertical end
surface only exerts a force which is counteracted by the balance weight.

Hydrostatic force acts on the point which is called center of pressure. The location of this
point is the average location of the uniform continuous load on the surface of the
quadrant. During the experiment, the depth of the center of pressure will be found in two
ways.

Theoretically, the center of pressure depends on the depth of submergence.

Experimentally, it can be defined by balancing the weights with the pressure exerted by
fluid on quadrant and finding water level at which the equilibrium state is achieved.
Hence, by calculating the distance to center of pressure, analytical and practical results
will be compared.

Experimental objectives
1. To determine hydrostatic thrust acting on the vertical face of the quadrant
when the surface is partially submerged or fully submerged.
2. To find out the position of the center of pressure for each of experiments
performed.
3. To compare experimentally measured values for center of pressure with
theoretical calculated values.

Hypothesis
Theoretically, hydrostatic force is proportional to the depth of immersion. Therefore, it is
predicted that the higher the depth of the submergence of the body in the fluid is, the
greater hydrostatic thrust acting on the plane will be. Regarding the center of pressure,
it is expected that there will be small discrepancy between theoretical and experimental
results for the depth of center of pressure. This is because slight variations in the level
of eye can cause random error in the reading of exact surface of the water.
 2. Experimental Procedure
Equipment used:
1. Hydrostatic Pressure apparatus shown in the Figures 1 and 4:
Level indicator;
Balance arm;
Weight hanger;
Quadrant;
Drain valve;
Scale;
2. Set of weights (Figure 2.)
3. Source of clean water (Figure 3.)
4. Flexible tubing

Figure 1. Hydrostatic pressure apparatus

Figure 2. Set of weights Figure 3. Source of clean water

Figure 4. Hydrostatic pressure apparatus

Experiment A:
1. The small mass (50g) was added to the weight hanger and water was
poured to the tank until the balance arm reached the central mark on the level
indicator;
2. The 10 g increment was added and water was spilled into the tank until
the balance arm was horizontal;
3. As the balance arm became horizontal, the depth of immersion from the
scale on the quadrant was read and recorded.
4. The steps 2 and 3 were repeated 17 times until the mass on the weight
hanger supplied 250 grams and the water level reached the half of the tank.
5. The procedure above was repeated backward, via removing the weights.
6. The results were recorded and the hydrostatic force [N] was calculated

d2
using following equation: F w gB .
2

3. Results: Plots and Tables, Results description

Constans:
Height of End Face [D]: 0.100 m
Width of End Face [B]: 0.075 m
 Length of Arm [L]: 0.275 m
Height to Pivot [H]: 0.200 m
Room temperature: 25C
Gravitational acceleration [g]: 9.81 m/s^2
The density of water at the room temperature (25C) is equivalent to 997.05 kg/m^3.
Density of water [ w ]: 997.05 kg/m^3

Table 1. Data of measured depth in mm by addition of the masses or by removal of the

masses and average depth in gramm for partially and fully submerged body.

Mass, kg Depth of immersion Depth of immersion Average depth of

by addition of by removal of some immersion d, m
masses, m masses, m

Partially submerged body

0.050 0.0450 0.0460 0.04550

0.060 0.0510 - 0.05100

0.070 0.0540 0.0550 0.05450

0.080 0.0580 - 0.05800

0.090 0.0620 0.0620 0.06200

0.100 0.0660 - 0.06600

0.110 0.0690 0.0685 0.06875

0.120 0.0730 - 0.07300

0.130 0.0760 0.0750 0.07550

0.140 0.0790 - 0.07900

0.150 0.0815 0.0805 0.08100

0.160 0.0845 - 0.08450

0.170 0.0870 0.0865 0.08675

0.180 0.0900 - 0.09000

0.190 0.0930 0.0920 0.09250

0.200 0.0950 - 0.09500

0.210 0.0980 0.0970 0.09750

0.220 0.1000 - 0.10000

Fully submerged body

0.230 0.1025 0.1025 0.10250

0.240 0.1050 - 0.10500

0.250 0.1075 - 0.10750

As this experiment was dealing with the vertical plane of the partially and fully
submerged body, relative hydrostatic force [N] on this plane was calculated using
formula:
F=w ghA , (eq.1)
For partially submerged body, where A is the area of the plane:
A=Bd
B and d are given in the Constants part.
d
h is the mean immersion, which is equal to
2
d is the average depth of immersion.
So by combining given expressions, relative hydrostatic force [N] on the plane was
transformed to:
2
d d
F= w gBd =w gB (eq.2)
2 2
Applying eq.2 and values from Table 1, the hydrostatic force was calculated. As there is
a large range of samples of depth (d) for different values of masses, the calculation of
the hydrostatic force using the first depth (45 mm) will be shown as an example. Values
of hydrostatic forces for other depths will be determined and included to the Table 2.
3 2
45.51 0
F1=997.059.810.075

For fully submerged body the same strategy was applied, in which the mean
immersion h is equal to dD /2 .
 D is the depth of the surface, the value is given in Constans part.
By applying h to the equation 1, the formula for hydrostatic thrust for fully submerged
body was gotten.
D
F=w ghA=w g (d )BD (eq.3)
2
Using eq.3 and values from Table 1 for fully submerged body, the hydrostatic thrust was
calculated and the values were inserted to the Table 2. As an example of calculation the
thrust by using eq.3 the average depth 0.1025 m was used:
0.100
F=997.059.81(0.1025 )0.0750.100=3.8513 N
2

The distance from the water level to the centre of pressure or the pressure depth will be
calculated in two ways. First way is to measure an experimental value and the second
one is to calculate theoretical value for both partially and fully submerged body.
For partially submerged body the experimental value (h) will be computed by the
following formula:
2 mL
' ' = 2
[m],
w B d (eq.4)
h
in which m is the added mass, L is the length of arm. So the experimental distance to
centre of pressure for the first sample from the Table 2 by using eq.3 is:
20.0500.275
' ' 1(exp) = =0.1776 m
997.050.0750.04552
h
Other values for different masses and varying depths were calculated and inserted to
the Table 2.
The theoretical distance to centre of pressure (h) of partially submerged body was
calculated using formula:
d
h ' '=H [m] , (eq.5)
3
in which H is the height to pivot, which is given in Constants. The theoretical distance
was computed using eq.5 as for the first sample from the Table 1, others were
calculated and inserted to the Table 2.
 0.0455
h ' '1(theor)=0.200 =0.1848 m
3
For fully submerged body the experimental value (h) will be computed by the
following formula:
mL
' ' = [m],
w BD (dD/2) (eq.6)
h
All components of the formula were explained in the previous parts. As an example of
calculation of the depth of the centre of pressure below the surface by using eq.6 the
average depth 0.1025 m and 0.230 kg mass were used, other values were computed
and tabulated:
0.2300.275
' '= =0.1611 m
997.050.0750.100(0.10250.100/2)
h
The theoretical distance to centre of pressure (h) of fully submerged body was
calculated using formula:
dD /2 2

(eq.7)
D2 /12+
h ' '=H+
All components of the formula were explained in the previous parts. As an example of
calculation of the depth of the centre of pressure below the surface by using eq.7 the
average depth 0.1025 m was used, other values were computed and tabulated:
2
0.10250.100/2

0.1002 /12+
h ' ' =0.200+
Other values were calculated in the same way.

Both the experimental and turning moments were calculated by the formula given
below, in which F is the hydrostatic force:
M =Fh' ' (eq.5)
For partially submerged body using the first experimental value of depth from the
Table 2, the measured turning moment was computed as:
 M =0.75930.1776=0.1348 Nm
And using theoretical value of depth from the Table 2, the turning moment was
computed as:
M =0.75930.1848=0.1403 Nm ,
Other values for both measured turning and turning moments for partially submerged
body were calculated and inserted to the Table 2.
For fully submerged body using the first experimental value of depth from the Table 2,
the measured turning moment was computed as:
M =3.85130.1611=0.6204 Nm
And using theoretical value of depth from the Table 2, the turning moment was
computed as:
M =3.85130.1508=0.5808 Nm ,
Other values for both measured turning and turning moments for fully submerged body
were calculated and inserted to the Table 2.

Table 2. Values of turning moment, hydrostatic thrust, distance to centre of pressure

experimental and theoretical with changing masses and average depth for partially and
fully submerged body.

Mass Measured Average Hydrostatic Distance to Distance to Turning

added turning Depth thrust F, Centre of Centre of Moment M
m, kg Moment M by d, m N Pressure Pressure. by using
using Experimental theoretical
Theoretical
experimental h, m h,
h, Nm h, m Nm

Partially submerged body

0.050 0.1349 0.04550 0.7593 0.1776 0.1848 0.1403

0.060 0.1619 0.05100 0.9540 0.1697 0.1830 0.1746

0.070 0.1888 0.05450 1.0895 0.1733 0.1818 0.1981

0.080 0.2158 0.05800 1.2339 0.1749 0.1807 0.2229

0.090 0.2428 0.06200 1.4099 0.1722 0.1793 0.2528

0.100 0.2698 0.06600 1.5977 0.1688 0.1780 0.2844

0.110 0.2968 0.06875 1.7337 0.1712 0.1771 0.3070

0.120 0.3237 0.07300 1.9546 0.1656 0.1757 0.3434

0.130 0.3507 0.07550 2.0908 0.1677 0.1748 0.3655

0.140 0.3777 0.07900 2.2891 0.1650 0.1737 0.3975

0.150 0.4047 0.08100 2.4065 0.1682 0.1730 0.4163

0.160 0.4316 0.08450 2.6190 0.1648 0.1718 0.4500

0.170 0.4586 0.08675 2.7603 0.1661 0.1711 0.4722

0.180 0.4856 0.09000 2.9710 0.1634 0.1700 0.5051

0.190 0.5126 0.09250 3.1383 0.1633 0.1692 0.5309

0.200 0.5396 0.09500 3.3103 0.1630 0.1683 0.5572

0.210 0.5665 0.09750 3.4868 0.1625 0.1675 0.5840

0.220 0.5935 0.10000 3.6679 0.1618 0.1667 0.6113

Fully submerged body

0.230 0.6204 0.10250 3.8513 0.1611 0.1659 0.6389

0.240 0.6476 0.10500 4.0347 0.1605 0.1652 0.6665

0.250 0.6745 0.10750 4.2181 0.1599 0.1645 0.6939

Finally, the average values for both experimental and theoretical distances to centre of
pressure were computed in order to identify error that occurred in the experiment using
equation:
TheoreticalExperimental
%Error= 100
Theoretical

The average value for distance to centre of pressure found experimentally for partially
submerged body is: 0.1677 m (was computed by Excel).
The average value for distance to centre of pressure found theoretically for partially
submerged body is : 0.1748 m (was computed by Excel).
 0.17480.1677
%Error= 100 =4.062
0.1748
the value of error for partially submerged body was identified.
The average value for distance to centre of pressure found experimentally for fully
submerged body is: 0.1605 m.
The average value for distance to centre of pressure found theoretically for fully
submerged body is : 0.1652 m.

0.16520.1605
%Error= 100 =2.845
0.1652
the value of error for fully submerged body was identified.

Figure 5

Figure 6
Figure 7
 4. Discussion: Results explanation
As we can see from the Graph 1, the hydrostatic thrust is directly proportional to the
depth of immersion. Force acting on the quadrant is the buoyant force which depends
on volume of the submerged body. With the added hunger, the depth of a quadrant
increases which, in its turn, means that the volume also increases. As it was mentioned
before, the hydrostatic thrust depends on volume; thus, with the increased depth the
force also rises.

As for connection between the immersion depth and the centre of pressure (Graph 2),
the deeper quadrant is submerged, the lesser the distance to the centre of pressure is.

2
dD /2

Indeed, according to the formula 2 depth and centre of pressure are inversely
D /12+
h ' '=H+
proportional to each other.
In the Graph 3, the dependence of Turning Moment and Centre of Pressure is present.
It can be seen, the values obtained during this laboratory work for turning moment of
partially as well as of fully submerged quadrant coincide with theoretical results. As we
can see, they also have a linear proportionality.

The results of laboratory work were affected by several possible sources of error. Firstly,
it is obvious that it is not physically possible to determine the equilibrium point of
balance arm with 100% efficiency. Moreover, it is very complicated to measure the water
level by eye. Therefore, human factor is very critical in this experiment and should not
be neglected. It is important to note that there are also errors in equipment, in other
words the mass of a hunger is not exactly 50 g and scale also has an error.

This laboratory work could have been improved by using a sensor which would
determine the equilibrium point of water.
5. Conclusion
The results of the experiment have indicated that the proposed hypothesis is basically
right.

The direct linear proportionality between the hydrostatic force and depth of immersion
was proven theoretically and practically and illustrated on the graph for visual
representation and simple comparison. The values of the distance from water level to
the center of gravity calculated by theoretical formula and computed using experimental
data differed for 4.062 %. Such an error can be considered as a minor insignificant
discrepancy caused by parallax effect. Also, it was deduced before that the location of
centre of gravity depends inversely on the depth of immersion. Turning Moment and
Centre of Pressure are also inversely proportional. The theoretical and experimental
values have a small, almost negligible, difference.

Thus, all aims of this experiment were achieved.