FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Department Of Mechanical, Industrial And Electrical Engineering

FMC610S_ Introduction & fundamental concepts, and fluid statics: Tutorial 1

QUESSTION 1
2 kg of gas at pressure of 1.5 bar occupies a volume of 2.5 m3. If this gas
compresses isothermally to 1/3 times the initial volume. Find (i) the initial
temperature (ii) the final temperature. Take R =0.78 kJ/kg.K.

QUESSTION 2
The atmospheric pressure varies with elevation, decreasing with increasing
latitude by 𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 𝐴𝑒 𝑐𝑧 , where A & c are constant, Patm is in kPa, and z is
the latitude in meters. Using the data given in Table 1 below, find the
constants A & c and obtain the relation for the variation of atmospheric
pressure with respect to elevation. Calculate the atmospheric pressure at
2700 m latitude, would cooking take longer or shorter at sea level compared
to this latitude, justify your answer. Take the saturation temperatures as
99.97 °C and 81.32 °C at 101.3 kPa and 50 kPa respectively.

Table 1

z Patm
200 99.10
400 96.94
800 92.77
1000 90.75
1300 87.80

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QUESSTION 3
𝑔𝐿5 ∆𝜌⁄ 2
Find the primary dimensions of ( 𝜌 𝑄 ), where 𝑔 is the gravitational
constant, L is the characteristic length, ∆ρ is the characteristic density
difference, ρ is the density difference and Q is the characteristic volume flow
rate.

QUESSTION 4
The velocity distribution for a Newtonian fluid between two fixed wide,
2𝑦 2
parallel plate as seen in the Fig.1 below is given by 𝑢(𝑦) = 𝑉 [1 − ( ) ] ,
ℎ
whereby V is the mean velocity. The fluid has a viscosity of 0.195 kg. s/m2.
Also, V = 0.61 m/s and h = 5 mm. Determine: (a) the shearing stress acting
on the bottom wall, and (b) the shearing stress acting on a plane parallel to
the walls and passing through the centreline (midplane). (c) Sketch the
variation of shear stress across the channel. (d) Prove that this flow is indeed
laminar and not turbulent; assume hydraulic diameter as the height
between the plates.

Fig.1

QUESSTION 5
Write a paragraph of 120 words to describe how gas properties play a role
on how helium ballons can fly to up a latitude of 25 km. Use internet search
as your source and give at least two (2) reference using APA style.

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QUESSTION 6
The water in a tank is pressurized by air, and the pressure is measured by a
multifluid manometer as shown in Fig.2. Determine the gage pressure of air
in the tank if h1= 0.2 m, h2 = 0.3 m, and h3 = 0.46 m. Take the densities of
water, oil, and mercury to be 1000 kg/m3, 850 kg/m3, and 13,600 kg/m3,
respectively.

Fig.2

QUESTION 7
Freshwater and seawater flowing in parallel horizontal pipelines are
connected to each other by a double U-tube manometer, as shown in Fig.3.
Determine the pressure difference between the two pipelines. Take the
density of seawater at that location to be 𝜌 = 1035 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3. Can the air
column be ignored in the analysis. Take the specific density of air at 1 atm to
be 0.0013.

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 Fig.3

QUESTION 8
The pressure difference between an oil pipe and water pipe is measured by
a doublefluid manometer, as shown in Fig.4. For the given fluid heights and
specific gravities, calculate the pressure difference P = PB - PA.

Fig.4

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QUESTION 9
Two water tanks are connected to each other through a mercury manometer
with inclined tubes, as shown in Fig. 5. If the pressure difference between
the two tanks is 20 kPa, calculate a and 𝜃.

Fig.5

QUESTIONS 10
The water side of the wall of a 100-m-long dam is a quarter circle with a
radius of 10 m. Determine the hydrostatic force on the dam and its line of
action when the dam is filled to the brim.

QUESTION 11
A 4-m-high, 5-m-wide rectangular plate blocks the end of a 4-m-deep
freshwater channel, as shown in Fig.6. The plate is hinged about a horizontal
axis along its upper edge through a point A and is restrained from opening
by a fixed ridge at point B. Determine the force exerted on the plate by the
ridge.

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 Fig.6

QUESTION 12
A water trough of semi-circular cross section of radius 0.5 m consists of two
symmetric parts hinged to each other at the bottom, as shown in Fig.7. The
two parts are held together by a cable and turnbuckle placed every 3 m along
the length of the trough. Calculate the tension in each cable when the trough
is filled to the rim.

Fig.7

QUESTION 13
The two sides of a V-shaped water trough are hinged to each other at the
bottom where they meet, as shown in Fig.8, making an angle of 45° with the
ground from both sides. Each side is 0.75 m wide, and the two parts are held
together by a cable and turnbuckle placed every 6 m along the length of the

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trough. Calculate the tension in each cable for the case of a partially filled
trough with a water height of 0.4 m directly above the hinge.

Fig.8

QUESTION 14
A 4-m-long quarter-circular gate of radius 4 m and of negligible weight is
hinged about its upper edge A, as shown in Fig. 9. The gate controls the flow
of water over the ledge at B, where the gate is pressed by a spring.
Determine the minimum spring force required to keep the gate closed when
the water level rises to A at the upper edge of the gate. The width of the gate
is 4m.

Fig.9

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The 200 kg, 5-meter-wide rectangular gate shown in the Fig.10 below is
hinged at B and leans against the floor at A making an angle of 45° with the
horizontal. The gate is to be opened from its lower edge by applying a normal
force at its centre. Determine the minimum force FA required to keep the
gate closed.

Fig.10

QUESTION 15
The volume and the average density of an irregularly shaped body are to be
determined by using a spring scale. The body weighs 7200 N in air and 4790
N in water. Determine the volume and the density of the body. State your
assumptions.

QUESTION 16
A 170-kg granite rock (𝜌 = 2700 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3) is dropped into a lake. A man dives
in and tries to lift the rock. Determine how much force the man needs to
apply to lift it from the bottom of the lake. Do you think he can do it? The
density of water is 𝜌 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

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QUESTION 17
It is said that Archimedes discovered his principle during a bath while
thinking about how he could determine if King Hiero’s crown was made of
pure gold. While in the bathtub, he conceived the idea that he could
determine the average density of an irregularly shaped object by weighing it
in air and in water. If the crown weighed 3.20 kgf (= 31.4 𝑁) in air and 2.95
kgf (= 28.9 𝑁) in water, determine if the crown is made of pure gold. The
density of gold is 19,300 kg/m3. Discuss how you can solve this problem
without weighing the crown in water but by using an ordinary bucket with
no calibration for volume. You may weigh anything in air.

QUESTION 18
A hot air ballon (approximated as a sphere has a diameter of 15 meter) is to
lift a basket load of 27 00 N. To what temperature must the air be heated to
achieve liftoff? Take standard temperature and pressure, T = 15 °C and p =
101.3 kPa).

Fig.11

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QUESTION 19
An aluminium cube 150 mm on a side is suspended by a string in oil and
water as shown in the Fig.12 below. The cube is submerged with half other
in wate. Find the tension in the string if the specific gravity of oil is 0.8 and
he specific weight of aluminium is 25.93 kN/m3.

Fig.12

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