University Tenaga Nasional

College of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
CEWB121 Fluids Mechanics Laboratory
Laboratory Experiment (7)
(HB 012 Hydrostatic Pressure Test)
Name: Mohammed Abdulelah Ali Al-Ademi
ID: CE082389
Section: 01
Group Number: 5
Group Members:
1
2
3
4

Sharaf Adel Sharaf

Mohammed Adnan Shaiea
Muhammad Izzat
Huzaifah

CE082027
CE082023
CE082011
CE0823007
Date of Laboratory session: 29/ 07/ 2009
Date of Report submission: 19/ 08/ 2009
Laboratory Instructor Name: Ms. Faezah Hanum Binti Mansor

No.

Reports

Allocated

Achieved

(%)

(%)

Performance

Cover Page

Table of content

Objective

Theory

10

Anticipated results

10

Apparatus

Procedure

Analysis/Results

20

10

Discussion

15

11

Conclusion

10

12

Critique

13

References

14

Appendix

Totals

Table of content

No.

Title/ Subject

Page

1. Cover Page . 1
2. Table of content . 3
2

3. Objective 4
4. Theory . .. 4
6. Anticipated results . 7
7. Apparatus 8
8. Procedure ... 9
9. Results

. 9

10. Discussion 13
11. Conclusion ... 14
13. Critique .... 14
14.References....14
15.Appendix..15

Objective:
The main objective of this experiment is to determine the center of pressure of plane surface
which is submerged in the water and to compare the experimental outcomes with the
theoretical outcomes. Therefore, also, to find the percentage error or percentage difference
between experimental results and theoretical results.

Theory:
Hydrostatic pressure of a liquid is proportional to its depth
P = gh

.... [1]

Where:
Newton
is the pressure in unit of [
]
m2

kg
is the density in unit of [ m3 ]

g=9.80665 m
2
]
sec

is the acceleration due to gravity [

is the depth of liquid in unit of [ m ]

Figure 7.1
If P1 is pressure at depth h1 and P2 is pressure at depth h2, then:
P2 - P1 = g (h2 - h1)
Since, h = h2 - h1
Thus, P2 - P1 = gh or
P2 = P1 + gh
If [1] is at the surface of the liquid; P1 is the atmospheric pressure
Thus, P2 = Patm + gh
Patm

.. [2]

= 0 gauge pressure

Thus, P2 = gh
Hydrostatic force on the submerged surface is equal to pressure at the centroid times
with the area of the submerged surface.
F=ghA

.... [3]

Where:
F = Hydrostatic force in [Newton]
h = Depth of the centroid in [m]
A = Submerged surface area in [m]
and g are same as in [1]
Consider submerged surface A is at an angle to the liquid surface as in Figure 7.2

Figure 7.2: Hydrostatic force on submerged surface

Pressure on small area dA at a depth of h is:
P=gh
Force on area dA = dF = PdA
= g h dA
But, h = X Sin
Thus, dF = gX Sin dA

.. [4]

Intergrading [4]
A

dF = g Sin
F=
0

XdA
0

However,

dA
0

X dA

X = Distance from center 0 to centroid (CG)

Thus, F = g Sin

A X

. [5]

X Sin
h=

Therefore, F = g h A
Determination of Center of pressure, Cp Theoretical Method
From Fig 7.2, turning moment about 0
dM = X d F
5

= g h X dA
But, h = X Sin
Thus, dM = g Sin X dA or
A

dM =
M=
0

g X sin dA
0

= g Sin

X dA

. [6]

Since,

X dA
0

= I0

= 2nd moment of area about 0

=

1
L B3
12

Thus, M = g Sin Io

[7]

However, M = Moment of hydrostatic force about 0

= F Xp (See Figure 7.2)
Thus, M = F Xp = g Io Sin or
Xp =

Io

AX

[8]

From Parallel Axis Theorem

2
Io = ICG + A X
Thus, Xp =

Xp =

I CG+ A X 2
A X

I
X + CG
X A

or

[9]

Xp = Distance from 0 to center of pressure (Cp) in unit of [m]

X

= Distance from 0 to centroid of surface A in unite [m]

ICG = Second moment of area A about the centroid in unit of [m4]

A = Submerged surface in unit of [m]
6

Thus the center of pressure is always lower than the centroid I CG of various configurations
may be found in text book on Mechanics.
Determination of Center of pressure, Experimental Method
For HB 012 Hydrostatic Pressure, the submerged surface is always vertical or = 90. This
surface is 75mm wide and 100 mm high. The quadrant inner radius is 100mm and outer
radius is 200mm. Fulcrum is at the center of the quadrant.

Figure 7.3: Hydrostatic Pressure Tester Equipment.

When there is no water in the tank, W is the counter weight to the quadrant, the beam and
weight hanger. When there is water in the tank, a weight m is required to balance the
hydrostatic force. M is at a distance 280 mm from 0.
FY = mgL
Y =

mgL
F

... [10]

At the same time, Y =

Thus,

X p =Y R1 +h1

X p +( R1h1 )
.. [11]

Anticipated Results:
In this experiment, we can anticipate that hydrostatic pressure generated in a liquid is
directly proportional with the depth of the liquid since P = gh . Therefore, we can expect an

increase in the hydrostatic pressure if we increase the depth of the liquid, since pressure in the
liquid is equal to product of density and gravity times with the depth of the liquid.

Apparatus:
The apparatus that is used to perform this experiment is called Hydrostatic Pressure Tester,
Figure 7.3. This apparatus is used to determine the center of pressure of a plane surface
submerged in water.
Details of the equipment are:
A quadrant with the following dimensions
Inner radius

= 100mm

Outer radius

= 200mm

Width

= 75mm

Center or quadrant is the same as the fulcrum of the quadrant.

Fulcrum to weight hanger distance is 280mm
W is a counter weight to the quadrant and weight hanger when there is no hydrostatic
pressure.
Piston of W is adjustable horizontally
A clear acrylic tank with fulcrum support for the quadrant. When the tank is filled with water,
hydrostatic pressure will turn the quadrant counter clockwise which requires a balancing
weight with the mass m.
Pre-determined dimensions:
Width of quadrant B = 0.075m
Height of quadrant D = 0.100m
Length of quadrant L = 0.275m
Quadrant to pivot H = 0.200m
Hydrostatic pressure on the circular side of the quadrant exerts no turning moment on the
fulcrum. The same is hydrostatic pressure on the radial side of the quadrant. The only
pressure exerting turning moment on the fulcrum is that pressure acting on the
100mm 75mm surface which is maintained at vertical.

Procedure:
1 Weight W was adjusted to balance the quadrant, beam and weight
hanger when there was no water in the tank
2 The tank was filled so that the quadrant was nearly completely
submerged. The beam at the weight hanger end was titled upward.
3 Weight of 600g was added until the beam was about to title but not
tilted downward.
4 The water was slowly drained from the tank and the valve was
closed immediately when the beam was horizontal. The water level
and the weight were recorded.
5 100 grams of the weight was taken off, and the beam tilted upward
again and step 4 was repeated.
6 Step number 5 was repeated until all weights were removed.
7 The percentage of error between XPexperiment and XPtheory was
calculated.

Results:
N
o.

h1
[m
m]

w or
m
[g]

X
h=
[mm]

I CG

A X

h2

[mm]

mm4

mm3

X p exp

X p Theo

96

600

146

]
62500

]
108750

196

149.42

151.7

70

500

120

00
62500

0
900000

170

125.6

126.9

720000

145

102.2

103.7

45

400

95

00
62500

22

300

72

00
62500

532500

122

77.55

83.6

44

00
62500

270000

94

63.7

62.93

-6

200

-35

100

15

00
62500

120000

65

113.88

70.56

00

No
.
1
2
3
4
5
6

X p exp

X p Theo

Absolute percentage error (%)

(mm)
149.424655
125.55556
102.19229
77.555556
63.696969
113.88889

(mm)
151.70776
126.9444
103.7719
83.57407
62.939393
70.555556

1.50493
1.09405
1.52219
7.20140
1.203
61.417

General Calculations from the laboratory manual:

When water level is above the quadrant lower scale
Centroid

Center of 75 mm 100 mm quadrant surface from equation [3]

ghA

Density of water = 1000Kg/m

Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/sec

Depth of the centroid m

(h1 + 50) 10-3 m

Submerged surface area = (75) (100) (10-6) m

(1000 Kg/m) (9.81 m/sec) (h1 + 50) (10-3 m) (7500) (10-6 m)

9.81 (h1 + 50) (75) (10-4 Kg-m/sec); Newton Kg-m/sec

g
h

A
Thus F

From

h Sin = h

;( = 90)

10

Due to area of this experiment is rectangular, horizontal width = 75 mm and height = 100
mm.
Thus

I CG =

( 75 ) (1003 )
mm 4
12

I CG
( 75 ) (100 3)
=
m
( 12 ) ( 75 ) (100 )( h 1+50 )
AX
From [11], experiment
Xp = Y R1 + h1
mgL
R1 +h1
=
F
=

mgL
mg
100+ h1=
100+h 1

g h A
h A

mL
( h 1+50 ) A

- 100 + h1

m and h1 are from the experiment

= 1000 kg/m
L = 280 mm
A = (75) (100) mm = (75) (100) (10-6) m

Sample of Calculations for the experiment results:

Based on the 600g weight:
1.

X=50+

h=
h1
= 50 + 96
= 146mm

11

2.

( 75 ) ( 1003 )
I CG =
12
= 6250000

3.

mm4

A X=7500
146
3
= 1087500 mm

4.

h2=h1+ 100

5.

= 96 + 100
= 196 mm
mL
X Pexp=
100+ h1
( h1+50)

( 0.6 kg ) (280 mm)

100+ 96
kg
(1000 3 ) ( 0.146 m ) (0.0075 m2 )
m
149.424655 mm

6.

I
X Ptheory = X + CG
X A
6250000 mm 4
146 mm+
=
( 146 mm ) (7500 mm2)

7.

= 151.70776mm
X
X Pexperiment
Percentage Error= Ptheory
100
X Ptheory

100|
|151.70776149.424655
151.70776

1.5049

12

Graph of Xpexp (mm) vs. Weight (g)

160
140
120
100

Experimental

80
60
40
20
0
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Graph of Xpther (mm) vs. Weight (g)

160
140
120
100

Experimental

80
60
40
20
0
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Discussion:
By conducting this experiment, we can make sure that the weight applied is proportional to
the depth of liquid or the depth of centroid because the level was decrease to create a smaller
hydrostatic force to balance the decreasing weight. In general center of pressure is below the
centroid because pressure increases with depth. Therefore, we also can conclude that weight
applied is inversely proportional to the center of pressure.

13

Regarding the result we obtained, there are difference between the experimental
and theoretical center of pressure. This shows that there were errors and mistakes when we
conduct the experiment and these contribute to the percentage error. There are a few errors
that we might have done including: The pointer is unbalanced when we read the reading. The pointer is tends to vibrate and
difficult in make the beam balance. So that, we might not aware it at all during
experiment.
Parallax error such as our eye is not perpendicular to the pin when we take the reading. It
may also cause the inaccurate reading and affect our results.
Difficulty was faced when we try to decrease the water level to balance the decreasing
weight.
To improve this experiment, there few ways to do:

Make sure the pointer is parallel to the beam before taking the reading.
Try a best way to control the flow rate.
Parallax must be avoided during the experiment.
Be carefully when doing the experiment.

From the results, we know that the weight is proportional to the water level or the depth of
the liquid and the weight was also found directly proportional to the experimental and
theoretical center of pressure. Besides, the percentage error obtained lies between 1.50% to
61.4%. However, the percentages of error are still reasonable and this experiment still can be
improved if all the errors were minimized throughout the experiment.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the percentage error between theoretical and experimental center of pressure
lies between 1.50% to 61.4%. The weight must be proportional to the depth of liquid or depth
of centroid, because the larger hydrostatic force, the heavier weight is applied. The graph we
plotted is proportional but some of percentage errors that we found is quite big. These may
be caused by the errors occurred in this experiment. In addition, the center pressure also must
be proportional to the depth of water in general.
The percentage of error calculated are still considered reasonable, so our result can
be conclude as successfully done. Besides, we must be carefully about all the precautions.
Our result can be more accurate if the errors is minimize.

Critique:
Valve of the apparatus is almost spoiled and it makes it hard to
balance the decreasing weight while we were decreasing the water.

14

 Procedures of the experiment in the laboratory manual are not

clearly explained.

Reference:
[1].
[2].
[3].

Robert L. Mott. Applied Fluid Mechanics. 2006. 6th Ed. SI Units.

Singapore. Pearson Prentice Hall
Manual of the Mechanics of Fluids Laboratory (CEWB121)
B.R. Munson, D.F. Young, and T.H. Okiishi. Fundamentals of Fluid
Mechanics.
4th ed. 2002. Wiley and Sons. New York, USA.

15

Appendix:

List of Symbols Used in the Mechanics of Fluids Laboratory Reports

Calculations
No.
1

Symbol
a

Name
Area

Unit
m2

Diameter

m or mm
N
m2

fs

3
4
5
6
7

Height
Mass

pht

11

Volume

12
13
14
15

X
Y
F
L

Co-ordinate
Co-ordinate
Force
Length

m
m
sec
m3
m
m
N
m

Surface tension

N
m

Dynamic viscosity

Ns
2
m

Density

kg
m3

Density of manometer fluid

kg
m3

Kinematic viscosity

m
mm

sec sec

17

18
1m

19
20

N
m2

Pressure at base of liquid column

Thickness
Velocity

16

m
kg or g
N
2
m

Pressure

t
v

10

9.80665 m
sec 2

Acceleration due to gravity

h
m
p

Distortive stress

16