Name: AARON FREDDIE Q.

CARGAMENTO Date: 03/21/2023

Section: BSABE 2-1 Schedule: Thursday (10:00-1:00)

LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 3

DETERMINATION OF CENTER OF PRESSURE OF A FULLY SUBMERGED AREA

I. Introduction

Hydrostatic pressure is the force exerted by a liquid at rest on an object submerged

within it. This phenomenon is crucial in determining the center of a fully submerged area. When

an object is fully submerged in a liquid, it experiences pressure on all sides due to the weight

of the liquid above it. This pressure is directly proportional to the depth of the object below the

liquid surface and the density of the liquid.

The hydrostatic pressure acts uniformly in all directions, which means that the net force

acting on the object is zero, resulting in a state of hydrostatic equilibrium. This equilibrium can

be used to determine the center of a fully submerged area.

By using the principles of hydrostatic pressure, one can determine the center of mass

of an object or the centroid of a submerged area. The center of mass or centroid is the point

where the weight of the object or area is evenly distributed. This point is critical in various

fields, including engineering, physics, and architecture.

In conclusion, hydrostatic pressure is a fundamental concept that plays a crucial role in

determining the center of a fully submerged area. Understanding the principles of hydrostatic

pressure is essential for engineers and scientists working with submerged structures or objects.

II. Objective

1. To determine the position of the Center of Pressure of a fully submerged flat surface in a
liquid at rest.
2. To compute the equivalent force acting on the fully submerged flat surface.
3. To compare the equivalent force acting on the fully submerged flat surface with the applied
weight on the tray.
III. Materials and Equipment

1. Hydrostatic pressure apparatus 2. Set of weights 3. Water 4. Protractor 5. Ruler

IV. Procedure

1. Get the hydrostatic pressure apparatus from Laboratory in-charge. Record in the laboratory
equipment utilization log book the time and date of laboratory activity.
2. Place the equipment on a flat and even surface. Make sure that the equipment is in good
condition before using. Check the different parts for damage. Refer to figure 1 for the
schematic diagram of hydrostatic pressure apparatus.

Figure 1. Schematic Diagram of Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus

3. Level the tank using the adjustable feet. Use the “spirit bubble level” in checking the level
of the tank. Bubble that is perfectly centered is an indication that the tank is perfectly
leveled.
4. Verify the dimensions of a, L, d, and b of the balance bridge; this step is critical in order to
get accurate results. (see figure 2)
Measured dimension
a = 100mm L = 285mm d = 100mm b = 70mm
Estimated dimension
a = 100mm L = 285mm d = 100mm b = 70mm
Where:
L – distance from weight tray to the fulcrum
a – inner radius of the quadrant
b – base of the flat surface
d – depth of flat surface
h – height from liquid surface to the bottom of the quadrant.
Figure 2. Dimension of Hydrostatic Pressure Apparatus

QUADRANT

5. Place the balance bridge on designated point in the tank. Hang the tray at the end of the arm
of the balance bridge.
6. Close the draining tap of the bottom of the tank. Introduce water into the tank until the free
surface will be tangent to the upper edge of the quadrant.
7. Move the counterweight of the bridge balance until the flat surface is perpendicular to the
base of the tank. Make sure that the upper edge of the flat surface coincides with the water
surface. This can be tricky; in trying to level the upper edge of the flat surface to the water
surface you may add weight (for example 150g) to the balance tray then move the
counterweight to balance the bridge)
8. Place a calibrated weight (50g) on the balance tray. Add water slowly to the tank until the
flat surface of the quadrant is perpendicular to the base of the tank. You can adjust the level
of water (lowering the level) by opening the drain plug of the tank. After the quadrant is
perfectly leveled, measure the value of “h” for this weight.
9. Add additional weight (w1=___, _ w2=____, w3=____, w4=____, w5=____) on the balance
tray. Add water slowly to the tank until the flat surface of the quadrant is perpendicular to
the base of the tank. After the quadrant is perfectly leveled, measure the value of “h” for
this weight. Record the height “h” for each weight. Repeat step 9 until all the weight has
been added to the tray.
10. Removed the last weight added to the tray. Measure the angle made by the flat surface with
the liquid surface and the height corresponding to this weight.
11. Make the flat surface perpendicular to the base of the tank. Removed enough water in the
tank by opening the drain plug. Close the drain plug once the flat surface is perpendicular
to the base.
12. Repeat step 11 for the next weight (Example, 20 and 20 ) in the tray.
13. Record all your measurements in Table 1.
 Table 1. Lp2 =100+100= 200mm Initial weight on the tray: 150g
Filled tank Emptying tank Filled tank Emptying tank
Weight Height Weight Angle Height h Lcp Fcp Lcp Fcp
(g) h (mm) (g) α (deg) (mm) (mm) (N) (mm) (N)
40 110 40 90 110 163.34 4.15 200 0
w1 = 60 116 w1 =60 90 116 161.34 4.62 200 0
w2 = 80 121 w2 = 80 90 121 159.67 5.03 200 0
w3 = 100 127 w3 = 100 90 126 157.67 5.54 200 0
w4 = 120 132 w4 =120 90 132 156 5.98 200 0
w5 = 140 138 w5 = 90 154 6.54 200 0

14. Calculate the value of Lcp using the formula:

When the flat surface is vertical:

Lcp = Lp2 – h/3 where: Lp2 = a + d

When the flat surface is at an angle with the liquid surface:

Lcp = Lp2 – l/3 where: l = h x cos α

15. Compute for the value of the resultant force for the fully submerged area using the formula:

When the flat surface is perpendicular to the base of the tank:

Fcp = ρ x g x h2 x b where: ρ= 1000kg/m3
2 g = 9.81m/s2
When the flat surface is at an angle with the liquid surface:
Fcp = ρ x g x l2 x b where: l = h x cos α
2

V. Calculations and Discussion of Results.

When the flat surface is vertical:

When: weight is 40 g

Lcp = Lp2 – h/3 where: Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

Lcp = 200 – 110/3 h= 110 mm

Lcp = 163.34 mm

When: weight is 60 g

Lcp = Lp2 – h/3 where: Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

Lcp = 200 – 116/3 h= 116 mm

Lcp = 161.34 mm

When: weight is 80 g

Lcp = Lp2 – h/3 where: Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

Lcp = 200 – 121/3 h= 121 mm

Lcp = 159.67 mm

When: weight is 100 g

Lcp = Lp2 – h/3 where: Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

Lcp = 200 – 127/3 h= 127 mm

Lcp = 157.67 mm

When: weight is 120 g

Lcp = Lp2 – h/3 where: Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

Lcp = 200 – 132/3 h= 132 mm

Lcp = 156 mm

When: weight is 140 g

Lcp = Lp2 – h/3 where: Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

Lcp = 200 – 138/3 h= 138 mm

Lcp = 154 mm

When the flat surface is at an angle with the liquid surface:

When: weight is 40 g where: h= 110 mm

Lcp = Lp2 – l/3 l = 110 x cos (90)

Lcp = 200 – 0/3 l=0

Lcp = 200 mm Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

When: weight is 60 g where: h= 116 mm

Lcp = Lp2 – l/3 l = 116 x cos (90)

Lcp = 200 – 0/3 l=0

Lcp = 200 mm Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

When: weight is 80 g where: h= 121 mm

Lcp = Lp2 – l/3 l = 121 x cos (90)

Lcp = 200 – 0/3 l=0

Lcp = 200 mm Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

When: weight is 100 g where: h= 126 mm

Lcp = Lp2 – l/3 l = 126 x cos (90)

Lcp = 200 – 0/3 l=0

Lcp = 200 mm Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

When: weight is 120 g where: h= 132 mm

Lcp = Lp2 – l/3 l = 132 x cos (90)

Lcp = 200 – 0/3 l=0

Lcp = 200 mm Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

When: weight is 140 g where: h= 138 mm

Lcp = Lp2 – l/3 l = 138 x cos (90)

Lcp = 200 – 0/3 l=0

Lcp = 200 mm Lp2 = a + d = 200 mm

When the flat surface is perpendicular to the base of the tank:

When: weight is 40 g
Fcp = ρ x g x h2 x b where: ρ= 1000kg/m3
2 g = 9.81m/s2
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 0.112 x 0.07 b = 0.07 m
2 h = 0.11 m

Fcp = 4.15 N
 When: weight is 60 g
Fcp = ρ x g x h2 x b where: ρ= 1000kg/m3
2 g = 9.81m/s2
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 0.1162 x 0.07 b = 0.07 m
2 h = 0.116 m

Fcp = 4.62 N

When: weight is 80 g
Fcp = ρ x g x h2 x b where: ρ= 1000kg/m3
2 g = 9.81m/s2
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 0.1212 x 0.07 b = 0.07 m
2 h = 0.121 m

Fcp = 5.03 N

When: weight is 100 g

Fcp = ρ x g x h2 x b where: ρ= 1000kg/m3
2 g = 9.81m/s2
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 0.1272 x 0.07 b = 0.07 m
2 h = 0.127 m

Fcp = 5.54 N

When: weight is 120 g

Fcp = ρ x g x h2 x b where: ρ= 1000kg/m3
2 g = 9.81m/s2
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 0.1322 x 0.07 b = 0.07 m
2 h = 0.132 m

Fcp = 5.98 N

When: weight is 140 g

Fcp = ρ x g x h2 x b where: ρ= 1000kg/m3
2 g = 9.81m/s2
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 0.1382 x 0.07 b = 0.07 m
2 h = 0.138 m

Fcp = 6.54 N

When the flat surface is at an angle with the liquid surface:

When: weight is 40 g
Fcp = ρ x g x l2 x b where: h = 0.11 m
2 l = 0.11 x cos (90)
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 02 x 0.07 l=0
2 ρ= 1000kg/m3
Fcp = 0 N g = 9.81m/s2
b = 0.07 m
When: weight is 60 g
Fcp = ρ x g x l2 x b where: h = 0.116 m
2 l = 0.116 x cos (90)
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 02 x 0.07 l=0
2 ρ= 1000kg/m3
Fcp = 0 N g = 9.81m/s2
b = 0.07 m
When: weight is 80 g
Fcp = ρ x g x l2 x b where: h = 0.121 m
2 l = 0.121 x cos (90)
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 02 x 0.07 l=0
2 ρ= 1000kg/m3
Fcp = 0 N g = 9.81m/s2
b = 0.07 m

When: weight is 100 g

Fcp = ρ x g x l2 x b where: h = 0.126 m
2 l = 0.126 x cos (90)
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 02 x 0.07 l=0
2 ρ= 1000kg/m3
Fcp = 0 N g = 9.81m/s2
b = 0.07 m
When: weight is 120 g
Fcp = ρ x g x l2 x b where: h = 0.126 m
2 l = 0.126 x cos (90)
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 02 x 0.07 l=0
2 ρ= 1000kg/m3
Fcp = 0 N g = 9.81m/s2
b = 0.07 m
When: weight is 140 g
Fcp = ρ x g x l2 x b where: h = 0.138 m
 2 l = 0.138 x cos (90)
Fcp = 1000 x 9.81 x 02 x 0.07 l=0
2 ρ= 1000kg/m3
Fcp = 0 N g = 9.81m/s2
b = 0.07 m
1. Show your computation
2. Correlate the weight on the tray and depth of water.
3. Compare the location of center of pressure of a vertical area to an inclined area submerged
in a fluid.
4. Compare the weight and the computed resultant force. Discuss how the two values differ.

VI. Conclusion.

The hydrostatic pressure plays a significant role in determining the center of the fully

submerged area. The pressure exerted by a fluid on an object submerged in it increases with the depth

of the object below the fluid surface. This pressure acts uniformly in all directions and is known as

hydrostatic pressure.

When an object is fully submerged in a fluid, the hydrostatic pressure acting on it is equal on

all sides, resulting in a net force of zero. Therefore, the center of the fully submerged area is the point

at which the hydrostatic pressure acting on the object is at its maximum.

The calculation of the center of the fully submerged area involves determining the centroid of

the submerged object and taking into account the hydrostatic pressure acting on it. This calculation is

essential in engineering applications such as the design of ships, submarines, and offshore structures.

In conclusion, the hydrostatic pressure is a crucial factor in determining the center of the fully

submerged area. It influences the net force acting on the object and helps engineers to design structures

that can withstand the hydrostatic pressure at different depths.