Name

Course number

Instructors Name

Lab Title
Introduction

The purpose of this lab is to comprehend the principle of hydrostatic force acting on a plane

surface and verify the location of center of pressure. The TecQuipment H11 Centre of Pressure

Apparatus allows the moment due to the fluid thrust on a wholly or partially submerged plane

surface to be measured directly and compared with theoretical analysis. Provision is made for

varying the inclination of the plane surface subjected to the fluid pressure so that the general case

may be studied.

Water is contained in a quadrant of a semi-circular perspex tank assembly which is allowed to

swing on a smooth bar. The cylindrical sides of the quadrant have their axes coincident with the

center of rotation of the tank assembly, and therefore the total fluid pressure acting on these

surfaces exerts no moment about that center. The only moment present is that due to the fluid

pressure acting on the plane surface. This moment is measured experimentally by applying

weights to a weight hanger mounted on the opposite side to the quadrant tank.

A second tank, situated on the same side of the assembly as the weight hanger, provides a

trimming facility and enables different angles of balance to be achieved. The angular position of

the plane and the height of water above it are measured on an angular scale engraved on the tank

and a linear scale on the back panel. Included with the apparatus are base levelling feet and a

spirit level.

Fig 1 TecQuipment H11 Apparatus

Methods and materials

The quadrant tank of the hopper fabrication was held to the right-hand side. The the hopper

fabrication was fitted onto the center support of the main frame assembly. The base plate was

leveled by screwing the adjustable feet and observing the spirit level. A colored dye was supplied

with the apparatus, and was added to the water to help observation during experimentation. It

was necessary to add small amounts of dye (one or two capfuls) which produced suitable

coloring.

The apparatus was cleaned using soapy water. Care was taken while cleaning the apparatus to

ensure that no traces of grit or any hard-abrasive materials were present on the cloth used. Any

materials containing man-made fibers were not used because they would scratch the Perspex.

Results

Mass(g) W (mg) M (Nm) h(mm) h(m) h3 (m3) M+ωBR22h/2 ϴ˚

50.1 491.481 0.723214 162 0.162 0.004252 14.74484889 0˚

100.1 981.981 1.444985 148 0.148 0.003242 14.25487344 0˚

150.2 1473.462 2.168199 136 0.136 0.002515 13.93944813 0˚

200.3 1964.943 2.891414 124 0.124 0.001907 13.62402282 0˚

250.3 2455.443 3.613184 115 0.115 0.001521 13.56681387 0˚

350.3 3436.443 5.056726 92 0.092 0.000779 13.01962947 0˚

400.3 3926.943 5.778497 84 0.084 0.000593 13.04897382 0˚

 Graph showing plane fully submerged)
7

4 y = -64.915x + 11.081
M(Nm)

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18
h(m)

y = −64.915x + 11.081

ωB 2
gradient = − (R 2 − R21 ) = −64.915
2

ω × 0.75
− (0.22 − 0.12 ) = −64.915
2

ω = 57702.2 N/m3
 Graph showing plane partially submerged)
15

14.8
y = 471.55x + 12.745
14.6

14.4

14.2
M+ωBR22h/2

14

13.8

13.6

13.4

13.2

13

12.8
0 0.0005 0.001 0.0015 0.002 0.0025 0.003 0.0035 0.004 0.0045
h3(m3)
Discussion

From the results, it is seen that the hydrostatic pressure acting at the center of pressure

counteracts the weight in the mass pan and that the two are directly proportional. The mass or the

height of the water could be forced to be the independent variable. Since it was chosen that the

mass would be independent, the level of the water had to compensate for the added weight in the

mass pan. As the weight increased, the moment about the pivot, even though the moment and

remained the same, increased. This increase demanded the level of the water to be decreased in

order to create a longer moment arm for the hydrostatic pressure of the water to counteract the

force of the weight. By dropping the water level, it is possible to lower the center of pressure on

the face of the torroid and create a larger moment to negate the added mass. Not only did the

hydrostatic pressure act on the flat plane of the torroid, but also on the circular side of the

torroid; however, it did not incur more of a moment in the arm. Forces acting on a curved surface

can be broken down into a horizontal and vertical force. These two forces counteract each other

in the moment equation. One, the horizontal force, aides the mass pan, but the other, the vertical

force, contributes to the pressure on the flat surface, thus negating each other. Also, it can be

assumed that this force on the curved surface acts through the pivot point itself, also not aiding or

deterring from the moment.

Conclusions:

Based on the experiment, the depth of center of pressure was achieved. Referring to the number

of hydrostatic thrusts, it is become higher when the depth of immersion of the object is higher.