CE 121 Mechanics of Fluids
Problem Set 1
1. The specific gravity of certain oil is 0.82. Calculate the following:
a. Specific weight in lb/ft3
b. Specific weight in kN/m3
c. Mass density in slugs/ft3
d. Mass density in kg/m3
2. In the figure shown, if the atmospheric pressure is 101.03 kPa and the absolute
pressure at the bottom of the tank is 231.3 kPa, what is the specific gravity of
olive oil?
3. In the figure shown, when the funnel is empty the water surface is at point A and
the mercury of [Link]. 13.55 shows a deflection of 15cm. Determine the new
deflection of mercury when the funnel is filled with water to B.
4. Compute the hydrostatic force and its location on semi-cylindrical
indentation BCD shown. Consider only 1 meter length of cylinder
perpendicular to the figure shown.
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CE 121 Mechanics of Fluids
Problem Set 1
5. The section of concrete dam is shown in the figure. Concrete weighs
23.5 kN/m3 and water weighs 9790 N/m3. Coefficient of friction
between the dam and foundation is 0.55. Considering 1m length of
dam, determine the following:
a. Factor of safety against sliding
b. Factor of safety against overturning
c. Soil pressure at the heel and toe (assume hydrostatic uplift
varies uniformly from full hydrostatic head at the heel of the
dam to zero at the toe)
6. A block weighing 125 pcf is 1ft square and 9 inches deep floats on a stratified liquid composed of a 7-in layer of
water above a layer of mercury.
a. Determine the position of the bottom of the block.
b. If a downward vertical force of 260 lb is applied to the center of mass of this block, what is the new position
of the bottom of the block?
7. A 1.8m diameter closed cylinder, 2.7m high is completely filled with glycerin having [Link]. of 1.6 under a pressure
of 245 kPa at the top. The steel plates which form the cylinder are 5 mm thick with an ultimate tensile stress of 82
MPa. How fast can it be rotated about its vertical axis to the point of bursting?
8. An open trapezoidal tank having a bottom width of 3m is 2m high, 1.5m wide, and has its sides inclined 60° with
the horizontal. It is filled with water to a depth of 1.5m. If the tank is accelerated horizontally along its length at
4.5m/s2, how much water has spilled out?
9. A water tank has a sloping inclined at 45° with the horizontal. The total depth of water in the tank is 6.7m. A water
jet issues from an orifice located on the inclined side of the tank under a hydrostatic head of 4m or that orifice is
located 2.7m vertically above the bottom of the tank. Coefficient of velocity is 1. Neglecting air resistance on the jet.
a. Determine the maximum height of the issuing jet arises above the level of the center of orifice in meters.
b. Determine the time it takes for this particle of the jet to sit the ground that is 1.20m below the bottom of the
tank in seconds.
c. Determine the horizontal distance on the ground traveled by the jet from the center of the orifice in meters.
10. The tank in the figure shown is being supplied of water by a
faucet at the top and a pipe at point 1. If V1 = 6 m/s, and the
height of the water in the tank remains constant (Qin = Qout), what
is the value of V2 in m/s?
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