1

PROBLEM SET #1

1. Describe how density differs from specific weight.

- Density means m/v (mass over volume) and specific weight means w/v (weight over volume) Which means
they are related to equation γ=pg and density differs from specific weight because of g, the acceleration of
gravity

2. For what fluids can we (usually) assume density to be nearly constant? For what fluids must we be
careful to calculate density as a function of temperature and pressure?
- Density can be usually assumed to be nearly constant such as oil and water but the density of liquid may be
different on the temperature or pressure.
- Temperature and pressure must be known in order to determine the density of a gas.

3. Where in this text can you find density data for such fluids as oil and mercury?
- Table A.4 at appendix

4. An engineer living at an elevation of 2500 ft is conducting experiments to verify predictions of glider

performance. To process data, density of ambient air is needed. The engineer measures temperature
(74.3°F) and atmospheric pressure (27.3 inches of mercury). Calculate density in units of kg /m3
Compare the calculated value with data from Table A.3 and make a recommendation about the effects of
elevation on density; that is, are the effects of elevation significant?
- P = P/RT
= 92,450 N/ m^2 / (287kg/m^3)(296.7K)
= 1.086 kg/m^3
= 1.22 kg/m^3

5. Calculate the density and specific weight of carbon dioxide at a pressure of 300 kN m⁄2 absolute and
60°C.
PCO2 =P/RT
= 300,000kpa / (189J/kg)(333)K
= 4.76 kg/m^3
γCO2 = PCO2 (G)
= 4.76 kg/m^3 (9.81m/s^2)
= 46.76 N/m^3

6. Determine the density and specific weight of methane gas at at a pressure of 300 KN/m2 absolute and
60°C.

PCH4 =P/RT
= 300,000kpa / (518J/Kg)(333)k
= 1.74 kg/m^3
γCH4 = PCH4 (G)
= 1.74kg/m^3 (9.81m/s^2)
= 17.1 N/m^3
 7. Natural gas is stored in a spherical tank at a temperature of 10°C. At a given initial time, the pressure
in the tank is 100 kPa gage, and the atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa absolute. Sometime later, after
considerably more gas is pumped into the tank, the pressure in the tank is
200 kPa gage, and the temperature is still 10°C. What will be the ratio of the mass of natural gas in the
tank when p = 200 kPa gage to that when the pressure was 100 kPa gage?

M = PV
P = P/ RT
M2/M1 = P2/P1
M2/M1 = 300kPa / 200 kPa
= 1.5

8. At a temperature of 100°C and an absolute pressure of 5 atmospheres, what is the ratio of the density
of water to the density of air, ρw/ρa?

(water) = P/RT
= 506,600kPa / (287J/Kg)(373)k
=4.73kg/m^3
P(water) = 958 kg/m^3
P(water) / (water) = 958 kg/m^3 / 4.73 kg/m^3
= 203

9. Find the total weight of a 10 ft3 tank of oxygen if the oxygen is pressurized to 500 psia, the tank itself
weighs 150 lbf, and the temperature is 70°F?
P= 500 psia (144 psf/psi) T= 460+70 = 530°R
= 72000
P = P/RT
= 72000 psf / (1555 ft lbf/ slug R) ( 530°)
= 0.087 slug/ft^3

γ=pg
= 0.087slug/ft^3 (32.2ft/s^2)
= 2.80lbf/ ft^3

W(o) = 2.80lbf/ ft^3 (10 ft^3)

= 28 lbf
W(total) = 28 lbf + 150 lbf
= 178 lbf

10. A 10 m3 oxygen tank is at 15°C and 800 kPa. The valve is opened, and some oxygen is released until
the pressure in the drops to 600 kPa. Calculate the mass of oxygen that has been released from the tank if
the temperature in the tank does not change during the process.

P =P/RT

P1= 800000 N/m^3 / (260Nm/kg K)(288K)

 = 10.68 kg/m^3
M1 = p1 V
= 10.68 kg/m^3 (10m^3)
= 106.8 kg
P2= 600000 N/m^3 / (260Nm/kg K)(288K)
= 8.01 kg/m^3
M2 = P1V
= 8.01 kg/m^3 (10m^3)
= 80.1 kg
M1-M2 = 106.8 – 80.1
= 26.7 Kg

11. What are the specific weight and density of air at an absolute pressure of 600 kPa and a temperature
of 50°C?

P(air) = P/RT
= 600000 kPa / (287 J/Kg k) ( 323 K )
= 6.47 kg/m^3
γ Air = P air (g)
= 6.47 kg/m^3 (9.81 m/s^2)
= 63.5 N/m^3
 2
12. The following questions relate to viscosity.
a. What are the primary dimensions of viscosity? What are five common units?
b. What is the viscosity of SAE 10W-30 motor oil at 115oF (in traditional units)?
c. How does viscosity of water vary with temperature? Why?
d. How does viscosity of air vary with temperature? Why?

A. Primary Dimension (M/LT)

Five common units
*(Ns/ m^2)
*[Dyn(s)/cm^2]
*[Lbf (s)/ft^2]
*poise
*Centipoise
B. μ = 1.2x10^-3 lbf.s/ft^2
C. Viscosity of water decrease when the temperature increase because the loose molecule in liquids which
give resistance in a cool temperature have a small energy barrier and while within higher temperature its
movement resist.
D. Viscosity of air increases when temperature increases because gases don’t have a loose molecule

13. What is the change in the viscosity and density of water between 10°C and 70°C? What is the change
in the viscosity and density of air between 10°C and 70°C? Assume standard atmospheric pressure (p =
101 kN m2 absolute).

Water: μ70 = 4.04 × 10−4 N S/m^2

∆μ = −9. 06 × 10−4 N·s/ m^2
ρ70 = 978 kg/m^3
ρ10 = 1000 kg/m^3`
∆ρ = −22 kg/ m^3

Air μ70 = 2.04 × 10−5 N · s/m^2

∆μ = 2. 8 × 10−6 N · s/ m^2
ρ10 = 1.25 kg/m^3
ρ70 = 1.03 kg/m^3
∆ρ = −0.22 kg/ m^3

14. Determine the change in the kinematic viscosity of air that is heated from 10°C to 70°C. Assume
standard atmospheric pressure.
∆v(air)10-70 = (1.99-1.41) x10^-10
= 5.8 x 10^-6 m^2/s

15. Find the dynamic and kinematic viscosities of kerosene, SAE 10W-30 motor oil, and water at a
temperature of 38°C (100°F).
Water Oil Kerosene
μ(N.s/m^2 ) 6.8×10^-4 6.7×10^-2 1.4×10^-3
ρ(kg/m^3 ) 993 880 814
ν(m^2/s) 6.8×10^-7 7.6×10^-5 1.7×10^-6

16. The bulk modulus of elasticity of ethyl alcohol is 1.06 x 109 Pa. For water, it is 2.15 x 109 Pa. Which
of these liquids is easier to compress? Why?
 - Ethyl alcohol, because it has smaller elasticity (elasticity is inversely related to the change in
density

17. A pressure of 2 x 10^6 N/m2 is applied to a mass of water that initially filled a 2000 cm3 volume.
Estimate its volume after the pressure is applied.

∆V = [- ∆P / E] V
= [(2 × 10^6) Pa / (2.2 × 10^9) Pa] (2000 cm^3)
= -1.82 cm^3
Vfinal = (2000 – 1.82) cm^3
= 1998cm^3

18. Calculate the pressure increase that must be applied to water to reduce its volume by 2%.

∆P = (E)∆V / V
= 2.2 × 10^9 Pa (0.02)
=4.4 x10^7 Pa
= 44MPa

19. A spherical soap bubble has an inside radius R, a film thickness t, and a surface tension
σ. Derive a formula for the pressure within the bubble relative to the outside atmospheric pressure. What
is the pressure difference for a bubble with a 4 mm radius? Assume σ is the same as for pure water.

∆p = 4σ R
∆p4mm = 4 (7.3)(10^-2 N/m) / 0.004m
= 73 N / m^2

20. A water bug is suspended on the surface of a pond by surface tension (water does not wet the legs).
The bug has six legs, and each leg is in contact with the water over a length of 5 mm. What is the
maximum mass (in grams) of the bug if it is to avoid sinking?
FT = (6 legs) (2/leg)
= 12
= 12(0.073 N/m)(0.005 m)
= 0.00438 N
FT − mg = 0
M = 0.00438 N / 9.81 m^2/s
= 0.4465 x10^-3kg
M = 0.447 x10^-3kg

21. A water column in a glass tube is used to measure the pressure in a pipe. The tube is 1 4 in. (6.35
mm) in diameter. How much of the water column is due to surface-tension effects? What would be the
surface-tension effects if the tube were 1 /8 in. (3.2 mm) or 1/ 32 in. (0.8 mm) in diameter?
∆h = (4 x 0.005 lbf/ ft )/ 62.4 lbf/ ft^3 x d
= 3.21 x 10^−4 / d ft
D = 1/48 ft
∆h = 3.21 × 10^−4 ft / (1/48)
= 0.185 in
D = 1/96 ft
∆h = 3.21 × 10^−4 ft / (1/96)
= 0.369 in
D = 1/384 ft
∆h = 3.21 × 10^−4 ft / (1/384)
= 1.48 in