FLUID STATICS

December 12, 2008

WHAT IS DENSITY???
 Mass per unit volume
ρ = m/V
 Dense = heavy “for its size”
 Not dense = light “for its size”
TO COMPARE DENSITIES
 You must compare the same volume!
QUESTION
 You have a block of wood and a cup of water.
The wood weighs more than the cup of water.
Does this mean that the wood is more
dense?
 Absolutely!
 Noway.
 Gee whiz, I don’t know…
QUESTION
 You have a block of wood and a cup of water.
The wood weighs more than the cup of water.
Does this mean that the wood is more
dense?
 Absolutely!

No way.
 Gee whiz, I don’t know…

 You need to know both the mass AND the volume

to compare densities (ρ = m/V)
QUESTION
 A cup of water has a larger mass than a cup
of air. Does this mean that the water has a
larger density than the air?
 Yes, it does!
 Nope.
 It’s too early for questions like this….
WARM-UP
 If the density of air is 1 kg/m3, and the
volume of this room is 1500 m3,
 What is the total mass of air in the room?
 What is the total weight of air in the room?
LAB – DENSITY AND FLOTATION
FLOATATION
 Objects do not sink because they are
“heavy”
 Objects DO sink because they are DENSE!!!
ORBITZ – “NEUTRALLY BUOYANT”
TWO QUESTIONS
 What’s the density of a fish?

 What’s the density of David’s rubber band

ball?
ONE MORE NOTE ON DENSITY
 Density is a property of a material
 Kind of like coefficient of friction – only way to
change density is to use a different material
 Tricky method to reduce density – add air!!!
 QUESTION 15.22 WOOD IN WATER II
A block of wood floats in a container of Earth
water as shown on the right. On the
Moon, how would the same block of
wood float in the container of water?

Moon
 QUESTION 15.22 WOOD IN WATER II
Earth
A block of wood floats in a container of
water as shown on the right. On the
Moon, how would the same block of
wood float in the container of water?

A floating object displaces a Moon

weight of water equal to the
object’s weight.
weight On the Moon,
the wooden block has less
weight,
weight but the water itself also
has less weight.
weight
REALLY COOL VIDEO
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpWjR8r_U
vc&feature=PlayList&p=910CE84079CCFC70
&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=43

 How is this possible? (Use physics concepts

to explain your answer)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2
 Homework questions?
PRESSURE
 P = F/A

 Atmospheric pressure is 100,000 N/m2.

Determine the total force acting on the top of
your desk.
 What measurements do we need to take?
 Why doesn’t the table collapse?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCeAfKCC
2ng&feature=related
FLUID PRESSURE
 Acts perpendicular to ALL
surfaces (like a Normal force)
 P = F/A

 Pressure unit:
 Pascal ( 1 Pa = 1 N/m )
2
PRESSURE IN A SWIMMING POOL
 What happens when you dive to the bottom
of a swimming pool?
 Would it be the same if you dove to the

bottom of an empty swimming pool? (filled

with air instead of water?)
FLUID PRESSURE
 Depends on depth P = ρgh
ρ = density
 g = gravity
 h = depth beneath the water
TWO EQUATIONS FOR PRESSURE
 P = F/A
 P = ρgh

 When do we use each equation???

 QUESTION 15.5 THREE
CONTAINERS
Three containers are filled with water to 1) container 1
the same height and have the same 2) container 2
surface area at the base, but the total
3) container 3
weight of water is different for each.
Which container has the greatest total 4) all three are equal
pressure acting on its base?
 QUESTION 15.5 THREE
CONTAINERS
Three containers are filled with water to 1) container 1
the same height and have the same 2) container 2
surface area at the base, but the total
3) container 3
weight of water is different for each.
Which container has the greatest total 4) all three are equal
pressure acting on its base?

The pressure at the bottom of each

container depends only on the height
of water above it! This is the same for
all the containers. The total force is
the product of the pressure times the
area of the base, but because the base
is also the same for all containers, the
total force is the same.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3
 Homework due tomorrow!
BACK TO MONDAY’S LAB…
 Draw a FBD of a wood block in water (it
floated)
NEW TYPE OF FORCE
 Buoyant force
 Upward force exerted by a fluid on an object
 Caused by pressure (remember how it acts
perpendicular to ALL surfaces?)
WHEN AN OBJECT IS FLOATING…
 How does the buoyant force compare to its
weight? How do you know?
PRESSURE CAUSES BUOYANT FORCE
WHAT HAPPENS TO AN OBJECT WHEN YOU
INCREASE ITS WEIGHT?
PRESSURE VS. DEPTH
PRESSURE VS DEPTH
BUOYANT FORCE

Fb = P*A
LAB #2: PRESSURE AND BUOYANT
FORCE
 Suppose you have a container with a bottom
surface area of .01 m2. The container is
sitting .3 meters beneath the surface
 Determine the pressure acting on the bottom of
the container. (which equation will you use?
How did you choose this one?)
 Determine the total upward force acting on the
bottom of the container. This is also called the
buoyant force. (which equation will you use?
How did you choose?)
 What is the weight of this container? How do
you know?
MONDAY, DECEMBER 7
 This week’s homework
 Review last Friday’s lab

 Buoyant forces on submerged objects

PRACTICE
 A cylinder with a surface area of .05 m2 hovers in
water with a density of 1000 kg/m3. The bottom
of the cylinder sits at a depth of .1 m beneath
the surface of the water. The top of the cylinder
sits at a depth of .05 m beneath the surface of
the water.
 Determine the pressure acting on the bottom of the
cylinder.
 Upward force acting on the bottom of the cylinder.
 Determine the pressure acting on the top of the
cylinder.
 Downward force acting on the bottom of the cylinder.
 What is the net buoyant force acting on the cylinder?
 What is the weight of the cylinder?
BUOYANT FORCES
 Upward force resulting from a difference in
fluid pressure
WHAT ABOUT IRREGULARLY SHAPED
OBJECTS?
 Like a blob of clay!
BUOYANT FORCE DEMO
 Comparing the buoyant force on two objects
with different weights but the same volume.
 Draw a FBD of the object outside the bucket
 Draw a FBD of the object submerged
SUBMERGED FBD
BUOYANT FORCE DEMO

Comparing the buoyant force on two objects with

different weights but the same volume.

Can Weight Submerged Buoyant

tension Force
A
B
BUOYANT FORCE DEMO

Comparing the buoyant force on two objects with

different volumes.

Can Weight Submerged Buoyant

tension Force
A
C
DEPTH
 Does depth affect buoyant force on a
COMPLETELY SUBMERGED object?
BUOYANT FORCE

Fb = ρgV

ρ= density of fluid
V = volume of fluid displaced
IF AN OBJECT IS ONLY PARTLY
SUBMERGED:
 QUESTION 15.11 TWO BRICKS
Imagine holding two identical
1) greater
bricks in place underwater. Brick
1 is just beneath the surface of 2) the same
the water, and brick 2 is held 3) smaller
about 2 feet down. The force
needed to hold brick 2 in place is:

2
 QUESTION 15.11 TWO BRICKS
Imagine holding two identical
1) greater
bricks in place underwater.
2) the same
Brick 1 is just beneath the
surface of the water, and brick 3) smaller
2 is held about 2 feet down.
The force needed to hold brick
2 in place is:
The force needed to hold the brick in
place underwater is W – FB. According
1
to Archimedes’ Principle, FB is equal to
the weight of the fluid displaced. 2
Because each brick displaces the same
amount of fluid, then FB is the same in
both cases.
YESTERDAY’S GROUP WORK
 Go over the solutions
RANK BUOYANT FORCES FROM
GREATEST TO SMALLEST

20 kg
20 kg

10 kg

30 kg 10 kg
 QUESTION 15.11 TWO BRICKS
Imagine holding two identical
1) greater
bricks in place underwater. Brick
1 is just beneath the surface of 2) the same
the water, and brick 2 is held 3) smaller
about 2 feet down. The force
needed to hold brick 2 in place is:

2
 QUESTION 15.11 TWO BRICKS
Imagine holding two identical
1) greater
bricks in place underwater.
2) the same
Brick 1 is just beneath the
surface of the water, and brick 3) smaller
2 is held about 2 feet down.
The force needed to hold brick
2 in place is:
The force needed to hold the brick in
place underwater is W – FB. According
1
to Archimedes’ Principle, FB is equal to
the weight of the fluid displaced. 2
Because each brick displaces the same
amount of fluid, then FB is the same in
both cases.
DEPTH
 Does depth affect buoyant force on a
COMPLETELY SUBMERGED object?
MORE TRICKY QUESTIONS….
 A boat is sitting on a lake and carrying an
anchor. What will happen to the water level
on the shore if:
 The boat is removed from the water
 The boat in the water holds an iron anchor which
is removed from the boat and placed on the
shore
 The anchor is removed from the boat and placed
in the water

 (HINT: compare the buoyant forces before and

after)
 QUESTION 15.14 ON GOLDEN POND
1) rises
A boat carrying a large chunk of
steel is floating on a lake. The 2) drops
chunk is then thrown overboard 3) remains the same
and sinks. What happens to the
4) depends on the size
water level in the lake (with respect
to the shore)? of the steel
 QUESTION 15.14 ON GOLDEN POND
A boat carrying a large chunk of 1) rises
steel is floating on a lake. The 2) drops
chunk is then thrown overboard
3) remains the same
and sinks. What happens to the
water level in the lake (with 4) depends on the size
respect to the shore)? of the steel

Initially the chunk of steel “floats” by

sitting in the boat. The buoyant force
is equal to the weight of the steel, and
this will require a lot of displaced water
to equal the weight of the steel. When
thrown overboard, the steel sinks and
only displaces its volume in water.
water
This is not so much water—certainly
less than before—and so the water
level in the lake will drop.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10
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u9HA

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCeAfKCC
2ng&feature=related
FLOATING OBJECTS VS SUBMERGED
OBJECTS
 Floating:
 Fb =W
 Mass does affect Fb, because it increases volume
submerged
 Increased depth increases Fb

 Submerged:
 Fb <W
 Mass has zero effect on Fb
 Increased depth has no effect on Fb
BUOYANCY LAB CHALLENGE
 Read over lab sheet
DANNY DECKCHAIR (OR UP)
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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkqzFUhG
PJg
 QUESTION 15.21 WOOD IN WATER I
Two beakers are filled to the brim with water. A wooden
block is placed in the beaker 2 so it floats. (Some of the
water will overflow the beaker). Both beakers are then
weighed. Which scale reads a larger weight?

same for both

 QUESTION 15.21 WOOD IN WATER I
Two beakers are filled to the brim with water. A wooden
block is placed in the beaker 2 so it floats. (Some of the
water will overflow the beaker). Both beakers are then
weighed. Which scale reads a larger weight?

The block in 2 displaces an amount of

water equal to its weight,
weight because it is
floating. That means that the weight
of the overflowed water is equal to the
weight of the block,
block and so the beaker
same for both
in 2 has the same weight as that in 1.
1
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2009
 Quiz Wednesday! (all fluid mechanics)
 Go over homework and some

misconceptions.
 Moving on to fluids that FLOW

 Filling up a bucket…..

 Water coming out of a faucet (what happens

to the velocity as it falls? What happens to
the area as it falls?)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15
 Get your lab turned in by Friday!
 Quiz tomorrow!

 Let’s review…
FLOATING OBJECTS VS SUBMERGED
OBJECTS
 Floating:
 Fb =W
 Mass does affect Fb, because it increases volume
submerged (because volume is increasing)
 Increased depth increases Fb (Because volume is
increasing)
 Submerged:
 Fb <W
 Mass has zero effect on Fb
 Increased depth has no effect on Fb
 QUESTION 15.21 WOOD IN WATER I
Two beakers are filled to the brim with water. A wooden
block is placed in the beaker 2 and it sinks. (Some of the
water will overflow the beaker). Both beakers are then
weighed. Which scale reads a larger weight?

same for both

 QUESTION 15.21 WOOD IN WATER I
Two beakers are filled to the brim with water. A wooden block is placed
in the beaker 2. Its density is less than that of water, so it would float.
However, a string is tied to it and it is pulled underwater and held in
place. Both beakers are then weighed. Which scale reads a larger
weight?

same for both

 QUESTION 15.21 WOOD IN WATER I
Two beakers are filled to the brim with water. A wooden block is placed
in the beaker 2. Its density is less than that of water, so it would float.
However, a string is tied to it and it is pulled underwater and held in
place. Both beakers are then weighed. Which scale reads a larger
weight?

same for both

PRACTICE PROBLEM
 An experimental diving bell is lowered from rest
at the ocean’s surface and reaches a maximum
depth of 80 m. The density of seawater is 1025
kg/m3.
 Calculate the pressure on the diving bell at this
depth.
 On the top of the diving bell is a hatch (door) with
an area of .25 m2. Determine the force needed to
open this door at this depth.
 Would your answer change if the hatch were on the
side of the diving bell? Would it change if it were on
the bottom of the diving bell? Explain why or why
not.
 Explain how you can decrease the force acting on
the hatch at this depth.
 A diver descends from a salvage ship to the
ocean floor at a depth of 45 m below the surface.
The density of ocean water is 1250 kg/m3.
 Determine the pressure on the diver on the
ocean floor
 The diver finds a rectangular aluminum plate
having a volume of .27 m3. A hoisting cable is
lowered from the ship and the diver connects it
to the plate. The weight of the aluminum block
is 2500 N. Ignore the effects of viscosity.
 Determine the buoyant force acting on the
plate.
 Draw a FBD of the plate.
 Calculate the tension in the cable if it lifts the
plate upward at a slow, constant velocity.
THINGS TO STUDY
 Homework 10 & 11
 PPT (posted online)

 Group problems from class

 Lots of conceptual questions

NOW DEALING WITH MOVING FLUIDS
 Law of conservation of mass
 If the fluid is incompressive, volume is also

conserved
 (Spraying water out of a hose)
 Water coming out of a faucet (what happens to
the area toward the bottom?)

A1v1 = A2v2
WHAT THIS MEANS….
 If area decreases, velocity has to increase for
the same mass to flow through
FLOW CONTINUITY
 Volume flow = A1v1 = A2v2
 A1, A2: cross sectional areas at points 1 and 2
 v1, v2: speed of fluid flow at points 1 and 2
ANIMATION

 http://home.earthlink.net/~mmc1919/venturi
.html

 Write the following questions in your

notebook (and answer them)
 As the area increases, what happens to the
velocity?
 As the area increases, what happens to the flow
rate?
 As the velocity increases, what happens to the
pressure?
 Use Bernoulli’s equation (P + ρgh + .5ρv2 =
const) to explain your answer to question 3