MURANG’A UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

(A Constituent College of Jomo Kenyatta university of Agriculture and Technology)

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION 2015/2016

SECOND YEAR EXAMINATIONS FOR THE DIPLOMA OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND CIVIL

UNIT CODE:SEB 1211 UNIT TITLE:HYDRAULICS I

CLASS: BC/C/15 (May). ACADEMIC YEAR: 2015/2016

END OF SEMESTER EXAM DURATION: 2 HOURS

DATE: 21TH APRIL /2016 TIME: 2HOURS

Instructions:
i. Question ONE is compulsory; attempt any other TWO questions.
ii. Maximum marks for each part of a question are as indicated in the question.

Question 1: (30 Marks)

a) Define each of the following terms:

i. Specific weight;
ii. Specific Volume;
iii. Specific Gravity;
iv. Atmospheric pressure;
v. Gauge pressure;
vi. Absolute pressure. [6 Marks]

c) A simple manometer is used to measure the pressure of oil (specific gravity =

0.8) flowing in a pipeline. Its right limb is open to the atmosphere and the left

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 limb is connected to the pipe. The centre of the pipe is 90mm below the level
of mercury (specific gravity = 13.6) in the right limb. If difference of mercury
levels in the two limbs is 150mm. find the pressure of oil in the pipe. [8 Marks]

d) State THREE mechanical gauges used for measuring high pressures of fluids
in boilers or other pipes where tube gauges cannot be used. [3 Marks]

e) i. In an experiment, the weight of a certain liquid was found to be

18.75KN. Find:
I. The specific weight of the liquid;
II. The density of the liquid.
ii. A vessel of 4m3 volume contains oil, which weighs 30.2 KN.
Determine the specific gravity of the oil.
iii. A diver is working at a depth of 18m below the surface of the sea.
How much greater is the pressure intensity at this depth than at the
surface? the specific weight of sea water is 10,000N/m3
iv. List the SIX basic units for the syste’me international (SI) giving their
symbols [13 Marks]

Question 2: (20 Marks)

a) In a hydraulic jack, a force P of 850N is applied to the smaller cylinder. The

area “a” of the smaller piston is 15cm2 and the area of “A” of the larger
piston is 150 cm2. What load can be lifted on the larger piston :
i. If the pistons are at the same level;
ii. If the larger piston is 0.75m below the smaller. [10 Marks]

b) A rectangular tank of size 5m x 3m has a partition wall parallel to 3m side.

On one side of the partition wall is filled an oil of specific gravity 0.8 up to
the height 1.5m and on the other side it contains another liquid of specific
gravity 0.9 up to the height of 3m as shown in fig 1 below. Calculate the total
resultant pressure on the partition wall.

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 [10 Marks]

Fig. 1

Question 3: (20 Marks)

a) A Tainter gate 3m long is mounted on a spillway as shown in fig. 2 below.
Find the resultant pressure on the gate and the inclination of this pressure.

Fig 2 [8 Marks]

b) i. Given the figure 3 below derive an equation for calculating pressure

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 PAat A.

Fig. 3

ii. If the mercury is 30cm below A in the left-hand limb and 20cm above
A in the right-hand limb, what is the gauge pressure at A? (specific
gravity of mercury = 13.6) [8 Marks]

c) Outline TWO advantages and TWO limitations of manometers [4 Marks]

Question 4: (20 Marks)

a) i. A cylindrical vessel of 100mm bore and 200mm height contains
mercury. Find the mass of the mercury if its specific gravity is 13.6.
ii. Find the weight of 5 litres of an oil of specific gravity of 0.85. [5 Marks]

b) Outline FIVE important applications of hydrostatics that can be met with in

real life situations. [5 Marks]

c) A triangular plate of 1metre base and 1.8 metre altitude is immersed in water.
The plane of the plate is inclined at 30° with the free surface of water and the
base is parallel to and at a depth of 2 metres from water surface as shown in
the fig, 4 below.

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 Fig 4
[10 Marks]

Question 5: (20 Marks)

a) Outline FOUR conditions which are very important for the stability of a dam. [4 Marks]

b) State the THREE Newton’s Laws of motion. [6 Marks]

c) i. Develop an expression for the force exerted by a jet of liquid which

strikes a stationary flat plate normally.
ii. A nozzle of 60mm diameter delivers a steam of water at 24m/s
perpendicular to a plate that moves away from the jet at 6m/s.
Find:
I. The force on the plate
II. The work done, and
III. The efficiency of the jet. [10 Marks]

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