* level

Hydrostatic
1. (a) Water and oil are stored in a uniform U-tube as shown below. The density of oil is 0.8
3
g/cm . Find the height of the column of oil ℎ.

2 cm
ℎ
Oil

Water

(b) If the cross-section of the left arm has a diameter of 4 cm while that of the right arm has a
diameter of 2 cm. Find the value of ℎ again.

4 cm
2 cm

2 cm
ℎ
Oil

Water

Solution:
(a) The density of water is 1 g/cm3. Remember it!

2 cm
ℎ
Oil

A B
Water

The pressure at point A and B equals. So,

 𝜌𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑔ℎ + 𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 𝜌𝑤 𝑔(ℎ − 2) + 𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚
0.8 ℎ = 1(ℎ − 2)
ℎ = 10 cm
(b) The answer remains unchanged as the pressure is independent of the diameter of the tube.

2. Two columns containing liquid are connected by a very thin tube as shown in the below figure.
In the right column, liquid B is floating on liquid A.
(a) Find the relation between the height of two levels and ratio of liquid densities.

Δh
𝜌𝐵
h
𝜌𝐴

(b) Assume two liquids are water and oil. Which liquid is oil? Given the density of oil
𝜌𝑜 = 910 kg/m3 .
(c) Given ℎ = 1 m, what is the difference in the two levels 𝛥ℎ?
Solution:
(a) As the setup is in the equilibrium, there is no pressure difference between two ends of the thin
tube. According to hydrostatic equation,
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑃0 + 𝜌𝐴 𝑔ℎ = 𝑃0 + 𝜌𝐵 𝑔(ℎ + Δℎ)
ℎ + Δℎ 𝜌𝐴
=
ℎ 𝜌𝐵
(b) Since the density of oil is smaller than that of water, oil will float on water. Then, liquid B is
oil.
(c) Applying the result of (a), we find
𝜌𝑤
Δℎ = ℎ ( − 1)
𝜌𝑜
Δℎ = 0.0989m = 9.89 cm
3. A piezometer is a device used to measure liquid pressure in a system by measuring the height to
which a column of the liquid rises against gravity as shown in the following figure. By
inserting the piezometers to a certain level of underground water (the horizontal level containing
point A and point B), we find that the difference between the left and right column is 55 cm.
What is the pressure difference between point A and point B?

55 cm

Impermeable layer

Underground water
A B
Fig.2.

Solution:
Let 𝑥 be the total height of the column above point B.

55 cm

A B

According to the hydrostatics equation, the pressure at point A is given by

𝑃𝐴 = 𝑃0 + 𝜌𝑤 𝑔(𝑥 + 0.55)
and the pressure at point B is given by
𝑃𝐵 = 𝑃0 + 𝜌𝑤 𝑔𝑥
And then, the pressure difference is
𝛥𝑃 = 𝑃𝐴 − 𝑃𝐵 = 0.55𝜌𝑤 𝑔 = 5395.5 N/m2

Pascal’s Law
4. Below shows a schematic diagram of a hydraulic lift. An external force is applied on a small
piston which has a cross sectional area of 100 cm2 (shown on the left). This pressure is
transmitted by a liquid to a large piston that has a cross sectional area of 600 cm2. Find the force
on the small piston required to lift a weight of 1200 kg.
 Hint: According to the Pascal’s law, a change in the pressure applied to a fluid is transmitted
undiminished to every point of the fluid and to the walls of the container.

𝐹2

𝐹1

Solution:
According to the Pascal’s law,
𝐹1 𝐹2
=
𝐴1 𝐴2
1200 × 9.8
𝐹1 = × 100
600
= 1960 N
Continuity Equation
5. Water flows steadily in a fork shape water pipe horizontally from left to right as shown in the the
figure below. In the left section of the pipe, the water flows at a speed 𝑣1 = 10 m/s. The
cross section area of the left section is 𝐴. In the right section, the water flows into three
separated channels with a smaller speed. The cross section area of one channel is 𝐴 and that of
other channels are 𝐴/2.
(a) Find the speed of water in the right section of the pipe.
(b) Find the pressure difference between two ends of the middle pipe.
Solution:
(a) Note that the following two configurations are equivalent

(Remark: The problem is simplified here by assuming the speed of the water is the same in the
three small pipes. In reality, the flow speeds in the three pipes are not the same due to friction
between the pipe wall and the water. The three pipes cannot be combined into one single big
pipe as shown above.)
Then, we can apply the continuity equation to determine the speed of water 𝑣2 in the right
section
𝐴𝑣1 = 2𝐴𝑣2
𝑣1
𝑣2 = = 0.5 ms −1
2
(b) Applying Bernoulli’s Equation, we can relate the pressure at the two ends of the pipe by
1 1
𝑃𝐿 + 𝜌𝑣12 = 𝑃𝑅 + 𝜌𝑣22
2 2
Then, the pressure difference is given by
1 1
𝑃𝑅 − 𝑃𝐿 = 𝜌(𝑣12 − 𝑣22 ) = ⋅ 1000 ⋅ 0.75 = 375 Pa
2 2
Remark: As pressure difference exists inside the pipe, there is a pressure gradient force acting
on the water. Note that the pressure gradient force is pointing from higher pressure to lower
pressure, so the force is in opposite direction to the flow in this case. It explains why the flow
speed is decreased.

** level
6. Mercury is stored in a U-tube. The cross-sectional areas of the left arm and the right arm are 10
cm2 and 5 cm2 respectively. 100 grams of water are then poured into the right arm as shown.
(a) Determine the length of the water column in the right arm.
(b) Given that the density of mercury is 13.6 g/cm3, find the distance ℎ that the mercury rises in
the left arm.
 ℎ

Water
Mercury Mercury

Solution:
(a) The length is
g
𝑙𝑤 = 100 g ÷ 1 3
÷ 5 cm2 = 20 cm
cm
(b)

ℎ
Water

ℎ𝑅

A B

Mercury

The volume of the mercury displaced from the right hand side to the left hand side is
𝑉 = 10ℎ = 5ℎ𝑅
So,
ℎ𝑅 = 2ℎ
As the pressures at point A and point B are the same,
𝜌𝐻𝑔 𝑔(ℎ + ℎ𝑅 ) + 𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 𝜌𝑤 𝑔𝑙𝑤 + 𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚
13.6(3ℎ) = 1(20)
ℎ = 0.490 cm
7. A pitot tube can be used to determine the velocity of air. If the fluid in the tube is mercury and
Δℎ = 5 cm, find the speed of the air flow. Assume that the air is stagnant at point A and the
height between point A and point B is negligible. Take 𝜌𝐻𝑔 = 13600 kg/m3 and 𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 =
1.25 kg/m3

A B

Δℎ

Solution:
Using the Bernoulli’s equation,
1
𝑃𝐴 = 𝑃𝐵 + 𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑣 2
2
1
𝑃𝐴 − 𝑃𝐵 = 𝜌 𝑣2
2 𝑎𝑖𝑟
1
𝜌𝐻𝑔 𝑔Δℎ = 𝜌 𝑣2
2 𝑎𝑖𝑟

𝜌𝐻𝑔
𝑣 = √2 ( ) 𝑔Δℎ
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟

13600
= √2 ( ) 9.8 × 0.05
1.25

= 103 ms−1
8. When we turn on a water tap, we can often see the stream of water becomes narrower as it falls
as Fig.4. Assuming the water is falling freely with acceleration 𝑔 (no air resistance), cross
section area of the tap be 𝐴1 , and the water leaving at speed 𝑣1 , what is the cross section area
𝐴2 of the stream at the level below the tap ℎ meter? Express your answer in terms of 𝑣1 , ℎ
and gravitational constant 𝑔.

Fig.4.

Solution:
In order to obtain the area 𝐴2 , we can apply the continuity equation
𝐴2 𝑣2 = 𝐴1 𝑣1
Here, 𝑣 is the speed of the stream at 𝐴2 . This speed can be obtained by considering
Bernoulli’s Equation as
1 1
𝑃0 + 𝜌𝑤 𝑣22 = 𝑃0 + 𝜌𝑤 𝑣12 + 𝜌𝑤 𝑔ℎ
2 2
2 2
𝑣2 = 𝑣1 + 2𝑔ℎ
In this situation, the pressures at 𝐴1 and 𝐴2 are equal to the atmosphere pressure.
Combining continuity and Bernoulli’s equations, we have
𝐴1 𝑣1
𝐴2 =
√𝑣12 + 2𝑔ℎ
Remark: Assume the cross section of the stream is a circle, so the area 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2 . So the radius
of the stream is given by
√𝑣1
𝑟2 = 𝑟1 4
√𝑣12 + 2𝑔ℎ
2𝑔
For = 20, the ratio 𝑟2 /𝑟1 as a function of ℎ is plotted as
𝑣12
9. There is an iron cube with real weight 𝑚𝑔 = 1200 N and volume 𝑉 = 8000 cm3 . When it is
partially dipped in water as shown in Fig.5 (left figure), its apparent weight is 𝑊 < 1200 N.
When it is partially dipped in oil with density ρo = 910 kg ⋅ m−3 (Fig.5, right figure), its
apparent weight is also 𝑊. (a) Find the ratio of 𝑥 and 𝑦. (b) Find the apparent weight if
𝐿 = 4𝑥.

Fig.5
Solution:
𝑥 3
(a) The volume dipped in water is equal to 𝑉𝑤 = 𝑉 𝐿 , where 𝐿 = √8000 = 20 cm is the edge’s

length of the cube.

For the left figure, the apparent weight is given by
𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔 − 𝜌𝑤 𝑉𝑑𝑖𝑝 𝑔
 𝑦
For the right figure, the volume dipped in water is equal to 𝑉𝑜 = 𝑉 𝐿 , the apparent weight is

given by
𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔 − 𝜌𝑜 𝑉𝑜 𝑔
𝑚𝑔 − 𝜌𝑤 𝑉𝑑𝑖𝑝 𝑔 = 𝑚𝑔 − 𝜌𝑜 𝑉𝑜 𝑔
𝜌𝑤 𝑉𝑑𝑖𝑝 = 𝜌𝑜 𝑉𝑜
𝜌𝑤 𝑥 = 𝜌𝑜 𝑦
𝑥 𝜌𝑜 910
= = = 0.91
𝑦 𝜌𝑤 1000
𝑉
(b) If 𝐿 = 4𝑥, then 𝑉𝑤 = 4 . The apparent weight is equal to

0.008
𝑊 = 1200 − 1000 ⋅ ⋅ 9.81 = 1180.38 N
4
*** level
10. A uniform rod is hung at one end and is partially submerged in water. If the density of the rod is
5/9 that of water, find the fraction of the length of the rod below water.

Solution:

𝜃 𝜃
𝐹𝐵
𝑓𝐿/2
𝑊
𝑓𝐿 𝜃

Let f be the fraction of the rod length submerged in water. By taking moments about the hanging
end,
𝑓 𝐿
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑓𝐿𝑔𝐿 (1 − ) cos 𝜃 = 𝜌𝑟𝑜𝑑 𝐴𝐿𝑔 ( ) cos 𝜃
2 2
𝑓 𝜌𝑟𝑜𝑑
𝑓 (1 − ) =
2 2𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
5
0 = 𝑓 2 − 2𝑓 +
9
𝑓 = 0.333
11. The water in a water pipe with a small hole as Fig.6 is losing with a varying rate.
(a) show the volume outflow rate is given by

2𝑔ℎ1 (𝑡)
𝑅(𝑡) = 𝐴
√ 𝐴 2
(𝐴 ) − 1
ℎ

(b) When the water level reaches the hole, the losing stops. Given the initial height
ℎ1 (𝑡 = 0) = ℎ, show the total time of losing is

𝐴 2
(𝐴 ) − 1
√ ℎ
𝛥𝑡 = 2 √ℎ
2𝑔

Area = A

h1

Area = Ah.

Fig.6.
Solution:
(a) For the water leaving from the hole, it is contacting air and the pressure there is just
atmospheric pressure. By Bernoulli’s Equation and continuity equation, we have
1 2 1
𝜌𝑣0 + 𝑃0 + 𝜌𝑔ℎ1 = 𝜌𝑣12 + 𝑃0
2 2
𝐴𝑣0 = 𝐴ℎ 𝑣1
By some algebra, we obtain
 2𝑔ℎ1 (𝑡)
𝑣0 (𝑡) =
√ 𝐴 2
(𝐴 ) − 1
ℎ

And hence the volume outflow rate of water is given by

2𝑔ℎ1 (𝑡)
𝑅(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑣0 (t) = 𝐴
√ 𝐴 2
(𝐴 ) − 1
ℎ

(b) Note that the volume of water (above the hole) is given by 𝑉(𝑡) = 𝐴ℎ1 (𝑡), and the rate of
change of volume is
𝑑𝑉(𝑡)
= −𝑅(𝑡)
𝑑𝑡
We can derive

𝑑ℎ1 (𝑡) 2𝑔ℎ1 (𝑡)

𝐴 = −𝐴
𝑑𝑡 √ 𝐴 2
(𝐴 ) − 1
ℎ

𝑑ℎ1
− = 𝑑𝑡
𝐶√ℎ1

2𝑔
where C = √ 𝐴
2 . By integrating both sides, from ℎ1 (𝑡 = 0) = ℎ to ℎ1 (𝑡 = Δ𝑡) = 0,
( ) −1
𝐴ℎ

0 Δ𝑡
𝑑ℎ1
−∫ = ∫ 𝑑𝑡
ℎ 𝐶√ℎ1 0
ℎ Δ𝑡
𝑑ℎ1
∫ = ∫ 𝑑𝑡
0 𝐶√ℎ1 0

2 ℎ
[√ℎ1 ]0 = Δ𝑡
𝐶

𝐴 2
2 (𝐴 ) − 1
√ ℎ
Δ𝑡 = √ℎ = 2 √ℎ
𝐶 2𝑔

𝐴 2
𝐴 𝐴 2
Remark: if 𝐴 ≫ 𝐴ℎ , √(𝐴 ) − 1 ≈ √(𝐴 ) = 𝐴
ℎ ℎ ℎ

Then the result can be simplified as

𝐴 1
Δ𝑡 ≈ 2 √ √ℎ
𝐴ℎ 2𝑔
You can also find this expression on the Wikipedia page of “Torricelli’s law”, and now you can
see what approximation is used in his/her derive.