Hydrostatics

A
1. An air bubble of radius 1 cm in water has an upward acceleration
9.8 cm s–2. The density of water is 1 gm cm–3 and water offer
negligible drag force on the bubble. The mass of the bubble is (g =
980 cm/s2)
(a) 3.15 gm (b) 1.52 gm
(c) 4.15 gm (d) 4.51 gm
(Main 4th Sept 1st Shift 2020)

2. A hollow spherical shell at outer radius R floats just submerged

under the water surface. The inner radius of the shell is r. If the
specific gravity of the shell material is 27/8 with respect to water,
the value of r is
(a) 8/9 R (b) 4/9 R
(c) 2/3 R (d) 1/3 R
(Main 5th Sept 1st Shift 2020)

3. A wooden block floating in a bucket of water has 4/5 of its volume

submerged. When certain amount of an oil is poured into the bucket,
it is found that the block is just under the oil surface with half of its
volume under water and half in oil. The density of oil relative to that
of water is
(a) 0.5 (b) 0.6
(c) 0.8 (d) 0.7
(Main 9th April 2nd Shift 2019)

4. A cubical block of side 0.5 m floats on water with 30% of its volume
under water. What is the maximum weight that can be put on the

1
 block without fully submerging it under water? [Take, density of
water = 103 kg/m3]
(a) 46.3 kg (b) 30.1 kg
(c) 87.5 kg (d) 65.4 kg
Main 10th April 2nd Shift 2019)

5. A uniform cylinder of length L and mass M having cross sectional

area A is suspended, with its length vertical from a fixed point by a
massless spring, such that it is half submerged in a liquid of density
 at equilibrium position. The extension x0 of the spring when it is
in equilibrium is
Mg  LA  Mg
(a) 1   (b)
k  M  k
Mg  LA  Mg  LA 
(c) 1   (d) 1  
k  M  k  2M 
(Main 2013)

6. A thin uniform cylindrical shell, closed at both ends, is partially

filled with water. It is floating vertically in water in half-submerged
state. If c is the relative density of the material of the shell with
respect shell with respect to water, then the correct statement is that
the shell is
(a) more than half-filled if c is less than 0.5
(b) more than half-filled if c is more than 1.0
(c) half-filled if c more than 0.5
(d) less than half-filled if c is less than 0.5
(IIT-JEE 2012)

7. A wooden block, with a coin placed on its top, floats in water as

shown in figure. A The distance l and h are shown here. After some
time the coin falls into the water. Then
2
 (a) l decreases and h increases
(b) l increases and h decreases
(c) both l and h increase
(d) both l and h decrease.
(IIT-JEE 2002)

8. A homogeneous solid cylinder of length L(L < H/2), cross-sectional

area A/5 is immersed such that it floats with its axis vertical at the
liquid-liquid interface with length L/4 in the denser liquid as shown
in the figure. The lower density liquid is open to atmosphere having
pressure P0. Then density D of solid is given by

(a) 5/4 d (b) 4/5 d

(c) 4d (d) d/5
(IIT-JEE 1995)

9. A solid sphere of radius R and density  is attached to one end of a

mass-less spring of force constant k. The other end of the spring is
connected to another solid sphere of radius R and density 3. The
complete arrangement is placed in a liquid of density 2 and is
allowed to reach equilibrium. The correct statement(s) is (are)
4R3g
(a) the net elongation of the spring is
3k

3
 8R3g
(b) the net elongation of the spring is .
3k
(c) the light sphere is partially submerged.
(d) the light sphere is completely submerged.
(Advanced 2013)

10. Two solid spheres A and B of equal volumes but of different

densities dA and dB are connected by a string. They are fully
immersed in a fluid of density dF. they get arranged into an
equilibrium state as shown in the figure with a tension in the string.
The arrangement is possible only if

(a) dA < dF (b) dB > dF

(c) dA > dF (d) dA + dB = 2dF
(ITT-JEE 2011)

11. A vessel contains oil (density = 0.8 g/cm3) over mercury (density
= 13.6 g/cm3) A homogeneous sphere floats with half its volume
immersed in mercury and the other half in oil. The density of the
material of the sphere in g/cm3 is
(a) 3.3 (b) 6.4
(c) 7.2 (d) 12.8
(IIT-JEE 1988)

12. The spring balance A reads 2 kg with a block m suspended from

it. A balance B reads 5 kg when a beaker with liquid is put on the
pan of the balance. The two balances are now so arranged that the

4
 hanging mass is inside the liquid in the beaker as shown in the
figure. In this situation:

(a) the balance A will read more than 2 kg

(b) the balance B will read more than 5 kg
(c) the balance A will read less than 2 kg and B will read more than 5
kg
(d) the balance A and B will read 2 kg and 5 kg respectively.
(IIT-JEE 1985)

13. A body floats in a liquid contained in a beaker. The whole system

as shown in figure falls freely under gravity. The upthrust on the
body is

(a) zero
(b) equal to the weight of the liquid displaced
(c) equal to the weight of the body in air
(d) equal to the weight of the immersed portion of the body.
(IIT-JEE 1982)

14. A uniform solid cylinder of density 0.8 g/cm3 floats in equilibrium

in a combination of two non-mixing liquids A and B with its axis
vertical. The densities of the liquids A and B are 0.7 g/cm3 and 1.2

5
 g/cm3 respectively. The height of liquid A is hA = 1.2 cm. The length
of the part of the cylinder immersed in liquid B is hB = 0.8 cm.

(a) Find the total force exerted by liquid A on the cylinder.

(b) Find h, the length of the part of the cylinder in air.
(c) The cylinder is depressed in such a way that its top surface is just
below the upper surface of liquid A and is then released. Find the
acceleration of the cylinder immediately after it is released.
(IIT-JEE 2002)

15. A ball of density d is dropped on to a horizontal solid surface. It

bounces elastically from the surface and returns to its original
position in a time t1 Next, the ball is released and it falls through the
same height before striking the surface of a liquid of density of dL

(a) If d < dL obtain an expression (in terms of d, t1 and dL) for the time
t2 the ball takes to come back to the position from which it was
released.
(b) Is the motion of the ball simple harmonic?
(c) If d = dL how does the speed of the ball depend on its depth inside
the liquid? Neglect all frictional and other dissipative forces.
Assume the depth of the liquid to be large.
(IIT-JEE 1992)

6
16. A boat floating in a water tank is carrying a number of large
stones. If the stones are unloaded into water, what will happen to the
water level?
(IIT-JEE 1979)

17. A man is sitting in a boat which is floating in a pond. If the man

drinks some water from the pond, the level of the water in the pond
decreases.
(IIT-JEE 1980)

7
 D

1. A ball is made of a material of density  where oil <  < water with
oil and water representing the densities of oil and water,
respectively. The oil and water are immiscible. If the above ball is
in equilibrium in a mixture of this oil and water, which of the
following pictures represents its equilibrium position?

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(AIEEE 2010)

2. A jar is filled with two non-mixing liquids 1 and 2 having densities

1 and 2 respectively. A solid ball, made of a material of density
3, is dropped in the jar. It comes to equilibrium in the position
shown in the figure. Which of the following is true for 1, 2 and 3?

(a) 1 < 3 < 2 (b) 3 < 1 < 2

(c) 1 > 3 > 2 (d) 1 < 2 < 3
(AIEEE 2008)

8
 COM

1. Two cylindrical vessels of equal cross-sectional area 16 cm2 contain

water up to heights 100 cm and 150 cm respectively. The vessels are
interconnected so that the water levels in them become equal. The
work done by the force of gravity during the process, is [Take
density of water = 103 kg/m3 and g = 10 ms–2]
(a) 0.25 J (b) 1 J
(c) 8 J (d) 12 J
(Main 27th July 1st Shift 2022)

2. Two identical cylindrical vessels with their bases at the same level
each contain a liquid of density . The height of the liquid in one
vessel is h1 and in other vessel is h2. The area of either base is A.
What is the work done by gravity in equalizing the levels when the
two vessels are connected?
(IIT-JEE 1981)

9
 Pressure

1. A hydraulic automobile lift is designed to lift vehicles of mass 5000

kg. The area of cross-section of the cylinder the load is 250 cm2. The
maximum pressure the carrying! smaller piston would have to bear
is. [Assume g = 10 m/s2]
(a) 2×10+6 Pa (b) 20 ×10+6 Pa
(c) 2×10+5 Pa (d) 200 ×10+6 Pa
(Main 8th April 2nd Shift 2023)

2. An object is located at 2 km beneath the surface of the water. If the

V
fractional compression is 1.36%, the ratio of hydraulic stress to
V
the corresponding hydraulic strain will be _____.
(Given: Density of water is 1000 kg m–3 and g = 9.8 ms–2.)
(a) 1.44×109 Nm–2 (b) 2.26×109 Nm–2
(c) 1.44×107 Nm–2 (d) 1.96×107 Nm–2
(Main 17th March 2nd Shift 2021)

3. A submarine experiences a pressure of 5.05×106 Pa at a depth of d1

in a sea. When it goes further to a depth of d2, it experiences a
pressure of 8.08×106 Pa. Then d2 – d1 is approximately (density of
water = 103 kg/m³ and acceleration due to gravity = 10 ms–2)
(a) 300 m (b) 400 m
(c) 500 m (d) 600 m
(Main 10th April 2nd Shift 2019)

4. A thin uniform tube is bent into a circle of radius in the vertical

plane. Equal volumes of two immiscible liquids, whose densities are

10
 1 and 2(1 > 2), fill half the circle. The angle  between the radius
vector passing through the common interface and the vertical is
  
(a)   tan 1  1 2 
2  1  2 
 
(b)   tan 1  2 
2  1 
 
(c)   tan 1   1 
 2 
     2  
(d)   tan 1   1 
 2  1  2  

(Main Online 2018)

5. A thin uniform tube is bent into a circle of radius in the vertical

plane. Equal volumes of two immiscible liquids, whose densities are
1 and 2(1 > 2), fill half the circle. The angle  between the radius
vector passing through the common interface and the vertical is
  
(a)   tan 1  1 2 
2  1  2 
 
(b)   tan 1  2 
2  1 
 
(c)   tan 1   1 
 2 
     2  
(d)   tan 1   1 
 2  1  2  

(Main Online 2018)

6. There is a circular tube in a vertical plane. Two liquids which do not

mix and of densities d1 and d2 are filled in the tube. Each liquid
subtends 90° angle at centre. Radius joining their interface makes an
angle  & with vertical. Ratio d1/d2 is

11
 1  sin  1  sin 
(a) (b)
1  cos  1  sin 
1  cos  1  tan 
(c) (d)
1  cos  1  tan 
(Main 2014)

7. A hydraulic press can lift 100 kg when a mass 'm' is placed on the
smaller piston. It can lift ____ kg when the diameter of the larger
piston is increased by 4 times and that of the smaller piston is
decreased by 4 times keeping the same mass 'm' on the smaller
piston.
(Main 24th Feb 1st Shift 2021)

12
 Comprehensive 2

A cylindrical tank has a hole of diameter 2r in its bottom. The hole is

covered wooden cylindrical block of diameter 4r, height h and density
/3.
Situation 1: Initially, the tank is filled with water of density  to a height
such that the height of water above the top of the block is h1 (measured
from the top of the block).
Situation 2: The water is removed from the tank to a height h2 (measured
from the bottom of the block), as shown in the figure. The height h2 is
smaller than h (height of the block) and thus the block is exposed to the
atmosphere.

1. Find the minimum value of height h1 (in situation 1), for which the
block just starts to move up.
2h 5h
(a) (b)
3 4
5h 5h
(c) (d)
3 2

2. Find the height of the water level h2 (in situation 2), for which the
block remains in its original position without the application of any
external force.
h 4h
(a) (b)
3 9
2h
(c) (d) h
3

13
3. In situation 2, if h2 is further decreased, then
(a) cylinder will not move up and remains at its original position
(b) for h2 = h/3, cylinder again starts moving up
(c) for h2 = h/4, cylinder again starts moving up
(d) for h2 = h/5, cylinder again starts moving up
(IIT-JEE 2006)

14
 Pressure (involving gas equator)
Comprehensive 1

A fixed thermally conducting cylinder has a radius R and height L0. The
cylinder is open at its bottom and has a small hole at its top. A piston of
mass M is held at a distance L from the top surface, as shown in the figure.
The atmospheric pressure is P0.

1. The piston is now pulled out slowly and held at a distance 2L. from
the top. The pressure in the cylinder between its top and the piston
will then be
(a) P0 (b) P0/2
P0 Mg P0 Mg
(c)  (d) 
2 R 2 2 R 2

2. While the piston is at a distance 2L from the top, the hole at the top
is sealed. The piston is then released, to a position where it can stay
in equilibrium. In this condition, the distance of the piston from the
top is
 2P0 R 2 
(a)  2  (2L)
 R P0  Mg 
 P0 R2  Mg 
(b)    2L 
 R P0 
2

15
  P0 R 2  Mg 
(c)    2 L 
 R P0 
2

 P0 R 2 
(d)  2   2L 
 R P0  Mg 

3. The piston is taken completely out of the cylinder. The hole at the is
se top sealed. A water tank is brought below the cylinder and put in
a position so that the water surface in the tank is at the same level as
the top of the cylinder as shown in the figure. The density of the
water is . In equilibrium, the height H of the water column in the
cylinder satisfies

g  L0  H   P0  L0  H   L0 P0  0
2
(a)
(b) g  L0  H 2  P0  L0  H   L0 P0  0
g  L0  H   P0  L0  H   L0 P0  0
2
(c)
(d) g  L0  H 2  P0  L0  H   L0 P0  0
(IIT-JEE 2007)

16
 Comprehensive 3

 5
A small spherical monoatomic ideal gas bubble  γ =  is trapped inside a
 3
liquid of density l (see figure).

Assume that the bubble does not exchange any heat with the liquid. The
bubble contains n moles of gas. The temperature of the gas when the
bubble is at the bottom is T0. The height of the liquid is H and the
atmospheric pressure P0 (neglect surface tension)

1. As the bubble moves upwards, besides the buoyancy force the

following forces are acting on it.
(a) Only the force of gravity
(b) The force due to gravity and the force due to the pressure of
the liquid
(c) The force due to gravity, the force duet o viscosity of the liquid
(d) The force due to gravity and the force due to viscosity of the
liquid

2. When the gas bubble is at a height y form the bottom, its temperature
is
2/5
 P   gH 
(a) T0  0 l 
 P0  l gy 
2/5
(b) T0  P0  l gH 
 P0  l gH 

17
 3/5
 P   gH 
(c) T0  0 l 
 P0  l gy 
3/5
 P   g ( H  y) 
(d) T0  0 l 
 P0  l gH 

3. The buoyancy force acting on the gas bubble is (assume R is the

universal gas constant)
(IIT-JEE-2008)
( P0  l gH )2/5
(a) l nRgT0
P0  l gy
2/5
 P   g ( H  y) 
(b) T0  0 l 
 P0  l gH 
3/5
 P   gH 
(c) T0  0 l 
 P0  l gy 
3/5
 P   g ( H  y) 
(d) T0  0 l 
 P0  l gH 

18
 Calculus

1. Consider a solid sphere of radius R and mass density

 r2 
  r   0 1  2  ,0  r  R. The minimum density of a liquid in which it will
 R 
 
float is
20 0
(a) (b)
5 5
20 0
(c) (d)
3 3
(Main 8th Jan 1st Shift 2020)

2. A spherical body of radius R consists of a fluid of constant density and

is in equilibrium under its own gravity. If P(r) is the pressure at r (r < R),
then the correct option(s) is (are)

(a) P(r = 0) = 0
P  r  3R / 4  63
(b) 
P  r  2 R / 3 80

(c) P  r  3R / 5  16
P  r  2R / 5 21
P  r  R / 2 20
(d) 
P  r  R / 3 27

(Advanced 2015)

3. A tube of length 50 cm is filled completely with an incompressible

liquid of mass 250 g and closed at both ends. The tube is then rotated in
horizontal plane about one of its ends with a uniform angular velocity
x F rad s 1. If F be the force exerted by the liquid at the other end then the

value of x will be ______.

(Main 29th 14 July 2nd Shift 2022)

19
4. A hot air balloon is carrying some passengers, and a few sandbags of
mass 1 kg each so that its total mass is 480 kg. Its effective volume giving
the balloon its buoyancy is V. The balloon is floating at an equilibrium
height of 100 m. When N number of sandbags are thrown out, the balloon
rises to a new equilibrium height close to 150 m with its volume V
remaining unchanged. If the variation of the density of air with height h
h

from the ground is   h   0e , where 0 = 1.25 kg m–3 and h0 = 6000 m, the
h0

value of N is _____.
(Advanced 2020)

20
 U - Tube
1. An open-ended U-tube of uniform cross-sectional area contains water
(density 103 kg m–3). Initially the level stands at 0.29 m from the bottom
in each arm. Kerosene oil (a water-immiscible liquid) of density 800 kg
m–3 is added to the left arm until its length is 0.1 m, as shown in the
schematic figure. The ratio  h1  of the heights of the liquid in the two arms
 h2 
is

(a) 15/14 (b) 35/33

(c) 7/6 (d) 5/4
(Advanced 2020)

2. A U-tube of uniform cross-section (see fig) is partially filled with a

liquid I. another liquid II which does not mix with liquid I is poured into
one side.
It is found that the liquid levels of the two sides of the tube are the same,
while the level of liquid 1 has risen by 2 cm. If the specific gravity of
liquid 1 is 1.1, the specific gravity of liquid II must be

(a) 1.12 (b) 1.1

(c) 1.05 (d) 1.0 (IIT-JEE 1983)

21
 A, Pa

1. A hemispherical portion of radius R is removed from the bottom of a

cylinder of radius R. The volume of the remaining cylinder is V and its
mass M. It is suspended by a string in a liquid of density  where it stays
vertical. The upper surface of the cylinder is at a depth h below the liquid
surface. The force on the bottom of the cylinder by the liquid is

(a) Mg (b) Mg – Vg

(c) Mg + R2hg (d) g(V + R2h)
(IIT-JEE 2001)

22
 Acceleration

1. A closed compartment containing gas is moving with some acceleration

in horizontal direction. Neglect effect of gravity. Then the pressure in the
compartment is
(a) same everywhere
(b) lower in the front side
(c) lower in the rear side
(d) lower in the upper side.
(IIT-JEE 1999)

2. A vessel containing water is given a constant acceleration 'a' towards

the right along a straight horizontal path. Which of the following diagrams
in fig. represent the surface of the liquid?

(a) (b)

(c) (d) None of these

(IIT-JEE 1981)

3. A cylindrical tube, with its base as shown in the figure, is filled with
water. It is moving down with a constant acceleration a along a fixed
inclined plane with angle  = 45° P1 and P2 are pressures at points 1 and
P1  P2
2, respectively, located at the base of the tube. Let  , where  is
gd

density of water, d is the inner diameter of the tube and g is the

acceleration due to gravity. Which of the following statement(s) is (are)
correct?

23
 g
(a) 0 when a
2

(b)  > 0 when a

g
2
2 1 g
(c)  when a
2 2
1 g
(d)  when a
2 2
(Advanced 2021)

24
 Rotation

1. A U tube is rotated about one of its limbs with an angular velocity .

Find the difference Rin height H of the liquid (density p) level, where
diameter of the tube d < < L.
(IIT-JEE 2005)

2. A cylindrical vessel containing a liquid is rotated about its axis so that

the liquid rises at its sides as shown in the figure. The radius of vessel is
5 cm and the angular speed of rotation is  rad s1. The difference in
the height, h(in cm) of liquid at the center of vessel and at the side will
be

(Mains 2020)
2 2 5 2
(a) (b)
25g 2g

25
 252 2 2
(c) (d)
2g 5g

3. A long cylindrical vessel is half filled with a liquid. When the vessel is
rotated about its own vertical axis, the liquid rises up near the wall. If
the radius of vessel is 5 cm and its rotational speed is 2 rotations per
second, then the difference in the heights between the centre and the
sides, in cm, will be
(Main 2019)
(a) 0.4 (b) 2.0
(c) 0.1 (d) 1.2

26
 Pr force on a wall S.T. and pressure force.

4. Two liquids of densities 1 and 2(2 = 21) are filled up behind a square
wall of side 10 m as shown in figure. Each liquid has a height of 5 m. The
ratio of the forces due to these liquids exerted on upper part MN to that at
the lower part NO is (Assume that the liquids are not mixing.)

(a) 1/2 (b) 2/3

(c) 1/4 (d) 1/3
(Main 8th Jan 2nd Shift 2020)

5. Water is filled up to a height l in a beaker of radius R as shown in the

figure. The density of water is , the surface tension of water is T and the
atmospheric pressure is P0 Consider a vertical section ABCD of the water
column through a diameter of the beaker. The force on water on one side
of this section by water on the other side of this section has magnitude

(a) 2 P0 Rh  R 2gh  2RT (b) 2P0 Rh  Rgh2  2RT

(c) P0 R 2  Rgh2  2RT (d) P0 R 2  Rgh2  2RT

(IIT-JEE 2007)
27
 Mechanics

1. A wooden stick of length L, radius R and density  has a small metal piece
of mass m (of negligible volume) attached to its one end. Find the
minimum value for the mass m (in terms of given parameters) that would
make the stick float vertically in equilibrium in liquid of density  ( > )
(IIT-JEE 1999)

2. A thin rod of length L and area of cross-section S is pivoted at its lowest

point P inside a stationary, homogeneous and non-viscous liquid. The rod
is free to rotate in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis passing through
P. The density d1 of the material of the rod is smaller than the density d2
of the liquid. The rod is displaced by a small angle  from its equilibrium
position and then released. Show that the motion of the rod is simple
harmonic and determine its angular frequency in terms of the given
parameters.
(IIT-JEE 1996)

3. A wooden plank of length 1 m and uniform cross-section is hinged at one

end to the bottom of a tank as shown in fig. The tank is filled with water
upto a height 0.5 m. The specific gravity of the plank is 0.5. Find the angle
 that the plank makes with the vertical in the equilibrium position.
(Exclude the case  = 0°).
(IIT-JEE 1984)

28
 Tube (involving gas Equation)

1. A piece of metal floats on mercury. The coefficients of volume

expansion of the metal and mercury are 1, and 2 respectively. If the
temperatures of both mercury and the metal are increased by an amount
T, the fraction of the volume of the metal submerged in mercury
changes by the factor_________
(IIT-JEE 1991)

29
 A/R

1. Given below are two statements one is labelled as Assertion A and the
other is labelled as Reason R.
Assertion A: When you squeeze one end of a tube to get toothpaste out
from the other end, Pascal's principle is observed.
Reason R: A change in the pressure applied to an enclosed
incompressible fluid is transmitted undiminished to every portion of the
fluid and to the walls of its container. In the light of the above statements,
choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.
(a) A is not correct but R is correct.
(b) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is correct but R is not correct.
(d) Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of
A.
(Main 6th April 2nd Shift 2023)

2. Given below are two statements:

Statement I: Pressure in a reservoir of water is same at all points at the
same level of water.
Statement II: The pressure applied to enclosed water is transmitted in all
directions equally. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct
answer from the options given below:
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are true
(b) Statement I is false but Statement II is true
(c) Both Statement I and Statement II are false
(d) Statement I is true but Statement II is false
(Main 10th April 1st Shift 2023)

30
 Left

1. A piece of metal floats on mercury. The coefficients of volume

expansion of the metal and mercury are 1, and 2 respectively. If the
temperatures of both mercury and the metal are increased by an amount
T, the fraction of the volume of the metal submerged in mercury
changes by the factor_________
(IIT-JEE 1991)

31