Relative Equilibrium of

Liquids
CE 309 – Fluid Mechanics
Prepared by: John Brix C. Pronuncial

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Constant Translational Acceleration of a
Liquid
• Constant Horizontal Acceleration – if a container undergoes a
constant horizontal acceleration, the liquid will be eventually brought
to a tilted position, θ.

• Constant Vertical Acceleration – when a container is accelerated

upward, the liquid surface maintains its position; however, the
pressure within the liquid will change.
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Horizontal Motion

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Inclined Motion

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Vertical Motion

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Steady Rotation of a Liquid
• Rotational Motion

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Sample Problem

1. An open rectangular tank mounted on a truck is 5m long, 2m wide, and

2.5m high is filled with water to a depth of 2m. Determine the following:

a) Maximum horizontal acceleration that can be imposed on the tank

without spilling any water

b) Accelerating force on the liquid mass

c) If the acceleration is increased to 6m/s2, how much water is spilled out?

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 1.96m/s 2

39.2kN
9.78m 3

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Sample Problem

2. A vessel 3.05m in diameter containing 2.44m of water is being

raised. Find the pressure at the bottom of the vessel when

a) Velocity is constant

b) It is accelerating 0.6m/s2 upward

c) It is accelerating 0.6m/s2 downward

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 23.94kPa
25.40kPa
22.47kPa

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Sample Problem

3. An open cylindrical tank 1m in diameter and 1.6m high contains 1m

deep. If the tank is rotated about its vertical axis, what speed in rpm
should have so that:

a) The water would just reach the rim of the tank

b) The depth of the water at the center is zero

c) There is no water at the bottom within 0.3m from the vertical axis
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 92.67rpm
107.01rpm
133.76rpm

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Seatwork
1. An open cylindrical tank, 2m in diameter and 4m high contains water to a depth of
3m. It is rotated about its own vertical axis with a constant angular speed.
a) If angular speed is equal to 3rad/sec, is there any liquid spilled?
b) What is the maximum value of speed in rpm can be imposed without spilling any
liquid?
c) If angular speed is equal to 8rad/sec, how much water is spilled out?
d) What speed in rpm will zero the depth of water at the center of the tank?
e) If the speed is equal to 100rpm, how much area at the bottom of the tank is
uncovered?

2. A closed tank 2m high and 5m long on the truck is filled to its top with gasoline. If the
truck has a constant acceleration of 4m/s2, determine the pressure at points A, B, C,
and D within the tank. Assume density of gasoline is 726kg/m 3.
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THANK YOU!

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