Introduction to Mechanical Engineering: Fluid Mechanics

Tutorial 6 Solutions - Hydrostatics

1. Estimate the gauge pressure 50m under the sea (γsw = 1.02). A diver at this depth releases
bubbles 1cm3 in volume. Estimate their volume when they reach the surface.

Pgauge = ρgh

Answer:
⇒ Pgauge = (1.02 × 103 )(9.81)(50) = 5 × 105 P a = 5bar

P1 V 1 = P2 V 2

Answer:
P1 V 1 (6 × 105 )(1)
⇒ V2 = = = 6cm3
P2 1 × 105

2. The pressure difference caused by an obstruction in a horizontal pipeline is measured by a

connecting a U-tube containing mercury (γm = 13.6) between pressure tappings upstream and
downstream of the obstruction. The pipeline and the connecting tubes are filled with water. The
difference in levels of the manometer is 200mm.

Figure 1: Question 3

(a) Express the pressure difference caused by the obstruction in N/m2 and kP a.

∆P = (ρgh)mercury − (ρgh)water

⇒ ∆P = 9.81 × 0.2 × (13.6 − 1) × 103

Answer:
⇒ ∆P = 24721.2N/m2 = 24.7kP a
 (b) Find the absolute pressure on the downstream side of the obstruction if an ordinary pres-
sure gauge on the upstream side indicates 0.7bar.
Answer:
Pabs = 0.7 × 105 − 24721.2 + 1 × 105 = 1.45bar

3. A differential manometer with oil (γo = 0.75) as the gauge fluid is used to measure the pressure
loss across a device X. What is the pressure loss when the deflection of the oil is as shown in
the figure below and the flowing liquid has a specific gravity of 1.5?

Figure 2: Question 4

ρf = 1.5 × 103 kg/m3

ρo = 0.75 × 103 kg/m3

PA = PC = PD + ρf · g · h1

PB = PG = PF + ρf · g · h3

PF = PE + ρo · g · h2

PE = PD

Therefore:

PA − PB = PD + ρf · g · h1 − (PF + ρf · g · h3 )
 ⇒ PA − PB = PE + ρf · g · h1 − (PE + ρo · g · h2 + ρf · g · h3 )

⇒ PA − PB = ρf · g(h1 − h3 ) − ρo · g · h2

⇒ PA − PB = 1.5 × 103 × 9.81(4.0 − 0.5) − 0.75 × 103 × 9.81 × 1.5

Answer:
⇒ PA − PB = 40.47 kN/m2