Name: Quiz #1 – 30 minutes – 70 pts total

[12 pts] 1. What are the dimensions in primary SI units for:

(a) density:
 
kg
Solution:
m3

(b) velocity:
h
mi
Solution:
s

(c) acceleration:
h
mi
Solution:
s2

(d) force:
   
kg· m
Solution: N or
s2

(e) pressure/stress:
     
N kg
Solution: Pa or or
m2 m· s2

(f) energy/work:
   
kg· m2
Solution: J or [N· m] or
s2

[4 pts] 2. If P is pressure and x and y are lengths, what are the dimensions in SI units for:

∂ 2P
(a)
∂x2
     
Pa N kg
Solution: or or
m2 m4 m3 s2
ZZ
(b) P dxdy

 
  kg m
Solution: Pam2 or [N] or
s2

[4 pts] 3. Explain the difference between the English Engineering and British Gravitational systems of units.

Solution:
The Britsh Gravitational system of units uses force (lbf), time (s) and length (ft) as primary units.
The English Engineering system of units uses mass (lbm), time (s) and length (ft) as primary units.

Fluid Mechanics Page 1 of 3 September 22, 2006

MEEM 3210, Section 1
 Name: Quiz #1 – 30 minutes – 70 pts total

[20 pts] 4. Show that a balance of z-component forces:

ΣFz = 0
on the column of fluid at rest shown in the schematic can be rearranged to form the manometer equation

P2 = P1 + ρgH
z F 1
y c 1

x a
b
a, b, c ≡ side lengths of fluid column
g F ≡ force on end of cylinder
liq u id c o lu m n g ≡ gravitational acceleration
d e n s ity , r H H ≡ height of liquid column
m a ss, m
m ≡ mass of liquid column
P ≡ pressure
x, y ≡ horizontal directions, ⊥ to g
z ≡ vertical direction, k to g
ρ ≡ liquid density
2

F 2

Solution:
Since the fluid is at rest, the sum of the forces on the fluid column must equal zero in the vertical direction
which may be written as:

ΣFz = 0 = Fsurface−2 − Fsurface−1 − Fbody

The Body Force, or Weight, is equal to the mass, m, times the gravitational acceleration, g.

Fbody Weight = mg = (density × volume) g = ρg [Area × Height]

Force is equal to pressure, P , times the area over which the pressure is acting.

Fsurface = P · Area

Substituting for Weight and Force in the force balance equation:

ΣFz = 0 = P2 · Area − P1 · Area − ρgH · Area

Dividing through by the area:

Σ (Fz /Area) = 0 = P2 − P1 − ρgL
or
P2 = P1 + ρgL

Fluid Mechanics Page 2 of 3 September 22, 2006

MEEM 3210, Section 1
 Name: Quiz #1 – 30 minutes – 70 pts total

[10 pts] 5. Explain the following terms as they relate to pressure measurement:

(a) differential pressure:

Solution: Differential pressure refers to the difference in pressure between to locations.

∆P = P1 − P2

(b) gage pressure:

Solution: Gage pressure is a differential pressure in which one of the measured pressures is
atmospheric pressure.
∆P = P − Patm

[8 pts] 6. Define the following measures of mass:

(a) density

Solution: density is the mass per unit volume [kg/m3 ];

common symbol: ρ

(b) specific volume

Solution: specific volume is the volume per unit mass [m3 /kg];
common symbol: v

(c) specific weight

Solution: specific weight is the density times the gravitational acceleration [kg/m2 s2 ≡ N/m3 ];
common symbol: γ

(d) specific gravity

Solution: specific gravity is the ratio of a fluids density to that of water at 4 ◦ C and is dimensionless;
common symbol: SG

[12 pts] 7. Rearrange the equation

1
P1 + ρV 2 + ρgz = P2
2
so that each additive term is expressed as a pressure head. P is pressure, V is velocity, ρ is density, g is
acceleration, and z is length.

P1 V2 P2
Solution: + +z =
ρg 2g ρg

Fluid Mechanics Page 3 of 3 September 22, 2006

MEEM 3210, Section 1