School of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering

THERMODYNAMICS & FLUID MECHANICS I (MM1TF1)

EXERCISE SHEET 1
Static pressure, Manometers
water = 1000 kg/m3 (unless otherwise stated)
Gravitational acceleration = 9.81 N m/s2

1.1
Find the pressure relative to atmospheric experienced by a diver
working on the sea bed at a depth of 35 m. Take the density of sea water to
be 1030 kg/m3.
[3.5 bar]

1.2
A closed rectangular tank with internal dimensions 6m x 3m x 1.5m
high has a vertical riser pipe of cross-sectional area 0.001 m2 in the upper
surface. The tank and riser are filled with water such that the water level in
the riser pipe is 3.5m above the top of the tank. Atmospheric pressure is 1
bar (1x105 Pa). Calculate:
(i) The gauge pressure at the base of the tank.
(ii) The gauge pressure at the top of the tank.
(iii) The force exerted on the base of the tank due to the gauge water
pressure.
(iv) The weight of water in the tank and riser.
(v) Explain the difference between (iii) and (iv). (It may be helpful to think about
the force on the top of the tank)

1.5m

6m

3m

Figure 1 sketch of tank and riser (not to scale!)

[(i) 49.05 kPa

(ii) 34.3 kPa
(iii) 882.9 kN
(iv) 264.9 kN
(v) The pressure at the top surface of the tank is above atmospheric pressure due to
the height of water in the riser. So there is an upwards force on the top of the tank.
The difference between these two forces is the weight of water in the tank.]

University of Nottingham, Malaysia campus

1.3
A double U-tube manometer is connected to a pipe as shown in Figure
2. Taking the dimensions and fluids as indicated, calculate the absolute
pressure at point A (centre of the pipe). Take atmospheric pressure as 1.01
bar and the density of mercury as 13600 kg/m3.

air
water
atmospheric
pressure

0.2 m

0.4 m

0.1 m

water

mercury
Figure 2 Double U-tube manometer
[124.7 kPa]

1.4
An inverted U-tube manometer connects pipes A and B as shown in
Figure 3. The manometer fluid is oil of density 900 kg/m3, pipes A and B
contain water. Calculate pA pB where pA and pB are the pressures at the
pipe centres, as shown.

water
water
A

0.45 m

0.25 m 0.2 m

oil

Figure 3 Inverted U-tube manometer

[-4.218 kPa]

University of Nottingham, Malaysia campus

1.5

Figure 4 shows two enclosed tanks, A and B, which are partially filled
with a liquid of relative density 0.82. The free surface in tank A is 2
m below that in tank B. The pressures at the corresponding free
surfaces are pA and pB with pA > pB. The tanks are connected to a utube manometer containing mercury of relative density 13.56 (density
relative to water). Determine the pressure difference pA - pB when the
difference in mercury levels is 225 mm.

B
A
2m
225 mm

pA

pB

Figure 4
[44.209 kPa]

University of Nottingham, Malaysia campus