LABORATORY PRACTICE MANUAL

Fluid Mechanics
PRÁCTICE No. 3
“HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE”

1. OBJECTIVES
Understand the meaning and factors that affect hydrostatic pressure.

2. PRELABORATORY
Read carefully all the practice and investigate the following:
• Definition and equation of hydrostatic pressure.
• Torricelli’s principle
• How is the correct use of the pycnometer.
• Make a procedure flow for the experimental steps to follow.

3. CONTEXT
Hydrostatics is the branch of mechanics that specializes in the equilibrium of
fluids. The term is also used as an adjective to refer to what belongs or is related to
this area of mechanics.

Hydrostatic pressure, therefore, refers to the pressure or force that the

weight of a fluid at rest can cause. It is the pressure experienced by an element
simply because it is immersed in a liquid.

There are many cases in which hydrostatic pressure can be adequately

analyzed, depending on many factors, including simple ones, like the scale and
dimensions in which they will be studied, and the ones that affect it the most, like
the type of fluid it is (for example, stagnant), and its type of flow.

4. MATERIALS, REAGENTS AND EQUIPMENT

MATERIALS REAGENTS EQUIPMENT

50 ml measuring cylinder Vegetal oil Pycnometer

500 mL beaker Glycerin Manometer - Tube
Funnel Water Analytical Balance

5 SAFETY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

The substances used in this practice are returned to their original container.

6. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. Measure the density of the substance using the pycnometer and balance in
duplicate.
2. Measure the total longitude of the measuring tube, cover all the exits in the
tube at different heights, and register them.
 LABORATORY PRACTICE MANUAL
Fluid Mechanics
PRÁCTICE No. 3
“HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE”

3. Fill completely the tube using the funnel with each fluid.
4. Using the manometer, measure the pressure at the different heights of the
tube.
5. In the same exit, collect some flow with the measuring cylinder recording the
time to fill 10 mL of volume. Observe the outlet profile of the flow.
6. Close the exit and seal it.
7. Refill the tube at the top with the fluid and repeat steps 4 to 7.
8. Using a Vernier measure the diameter of the exit orifice to calculate the
theoretical exit velocity.

7. DATA
1. Density measurement:
Fluid 1 Fluid 2 Fluid 3
Initial mass of pycnometer (g)
Final mass of pycnometer (g)
Fluid Mass.(m final – m initial)
Pycnometer Volume (mL)
Density of Fluid (g/cm3 )

2. Hydrostatic pressure:
Experimental Outlet Profile
Height Volume Time
Fluid Exit hydrostatic (Outlet Flow
(m) (ml) (s)
pressure (Pa) Curve Shape)
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
 LABORATORY PRACTICE MANUAL
Fluid Mechanics
PRÁCTICE No. 3
“HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE”

8. RESULTS
Using data of fluid density and height calculate the theoretical hydrostatic pressure
and calculate the error with the experimental:

Experimental Theoretical
Height Density
Fluid Exit hydrostatic hydrostatic %Error
(m) (kg/m3)
pressure (Pa) pressure (Pa)
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3

Using time and volume data, calculate the volumetric flow, then calculate the
velocity.

Outlet Outlet
Volume Time
Fluid Exit volumetric flow velocity
(ml) (s)
(Q) (m3 /s) (Ve) (m/s)
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3

Graph for each fluid: x-experimental pressure vs y-Height. Adjust the 3 points with
a lineal tendency.
Graph for each fluid: x-experimental pressure vs y-Outlet Velocity.

9. QUESTIONS AND/OR ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION

1. According to the results, which factors influence hydrostatic pressure?
2. What trajectory develops the water coming out of a hole in the tube?
3. It's known that scuba divers swim at a depth where the pressure is higher
than at sea level. Explain the reason.