Quiz FM101

Basic Fluid Statics

Lucas Montogue

PROBLEMS

u Problem 1 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)

Both a gage and a manometer are attached to a gas tank to measure its
pressure. If the reading on the pressure gage is 65 kPa, determine the distance
between the two fluid levels of the manometer if the fluid is mercury (𝜌𝜌 = 13,600
kg/m3).

A) h = 18 cm
B) h = 25 cm
C) h = 33 cm
D) h = 49 cm

u Problem 2 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)

Consider a U-tube whose arms are open to the atmosphere. Water is

poured into the U-tube from one arm, and light oil (𝜌𝜌oil = 790 kg/m3) into the
other. One arm contains 70-cm-high water, while the other arm contains both
fluids with an oil-to-water height ratio of 6. Determine the height of oil in the
right arm.

A) hoil = 64.4 cm
B) hoil = 73.2 cm
C) hoil = 85.3 cm
D) hoil = 96.1 cm
<<,

u Problem 3 (Munson, 2009, w/ permission)

For the configuration shown in the figure below, what must be the value
of the specific weight of the unknown fluid?

1
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
A) 𝛾𝛾 = 8.5 kN/m3
B) 𝛾𝛾 = 12.0 kN/m3
C) 𝛾𝛾 = 15.5 kN/m3
D) 𝛾𝛾 = 19.0 kN/m3

u Problem 4 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)

The 500-kg load on the hydraulic lift shown is to be raised by pouring oil
(𝜌𝜌 = 780 kg/m3) into a thin tube. Determine how high h should be in order to begin
to raise the weight.

A) h = 32.2 cm
B) h = 56.7 cm
C) h = 78.1 cm
D) h = 94.5 cm

u Problem 5 (Munson et al., 2009, w/ permission)

A piston having a cross-sectional area of 0.07 m2 is located in a cylinder

containing water as shown. An open U-tube manometer is connected to the
cylinder. For h1 = 60 mm and h = 100 mm, what is the value of the applied force, P,
acting on the piston? The weight of the piston is negligible.

A) P = 654 N
B) P = 739 N
C) P = 893 N
D) P = 971 N

2
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
u Problem 6 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)

A gas is contained in a vertical, frictionless piston-cylinder device. The

piston has a mass of 4 kg and a cross-sectional area of 35 cm2. A compressed
spring above the piston exerts a force of 60 N on the piston. If the atmospheric
pressure is 95 kPa, determine the pressure inside the cylinder.

A) p = 95.5 kPa
B) p = 103.6 kPa
C) p = 118.7 kPa
D) p = 123.4 kPa

u Problem 7 (Munson et al., 2009, w/ permission)

The U-shaped tube shown initially contains water only. A second liquid of
specific weight 𝛾𝛾, smaller than that of water, is placed on top of the water with no
mixing occurring. Can the height, h, of the second liquid be adjusted so that the
left and right levels are at the same height? Provide proof of your answer.

u Problem 8 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)

Two oil tanks are connected to each other through a manometer. If the
difference between the mercury levels in the two arms is 81 cm, determine the
pressure difference between the two tanks. The densities of oil and mercury are
800 kg/m3 and 13,600 kg/m3, respectively.

A) Δp = 101.7 kPa
B) Δp = 125.5 kPa
C) Δp = 144.9 kPa
D) Δp = 167.9 kPa

3
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
u Problem 9 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)

Consider a double-fluid manometer attached to an air pipe as shown. If

the specific gravity of one fluid is 13.55, determine the specific gravity of the
other fluid for the indicated air pressure. Take the atmospheric pressure to be
100 kPa.

A) SG2 = 0.91
B) SG2 = 1.34
C) SG2 = 1.75
D) SG2 = 2.08

u Problem 10 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)

The pressure difference between an oil pipe and water pipe is measured
by a double-fluid manometer, as shown. For the given fluid heights and specific
gravities, calculate the pressure difference Δ𝑝𝑝 = 𝑝𝑝𝐵𝐵 − 𝑝𝑝𝐴𝐴 .

A) Δ𝑝𝑝 = 9.51 kPa

B) Δ𝑝𝑝 = 27.6 kPa
C) Δ𝑝𝑝 = 44.9 kPa
D) Δ𝑝𝑝 = 66.8 kPa

4
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
u Problem 11 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)
The system shown in the figure is used to accurately measure the
pressure changes when the pressure is increased by Δ𝑝𝑝 in the water pipe. When
Δh = 70 mm, what is the change in the pipe pressure?

A) Δ𝑝𝑝 = 233 Pa
B) Δ𝑝𝑝 = 479 Pa
C) Δ𝑝𝑝 = 651 Pa
D) Δ𝑝𝑝 = 867 Pa

u Problem 12 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)

Two water tanks are connected to each other through a mercury

manometer with inclined tubes, as shown. If the pressure difference between the
two tanks is 20 kPa, calculate 𝜃𝜃.

A) 𝜃𝜃 = 10o
B) 𝜃𝜃 = 21o
C) 𝜃𝜃 = 34o
D) 𝜃𝜃 = 43o

u Problem 13 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)

The manometer shown in the figure is designed to measure pressures of

up to a maximum of 100 Pa. If the reading error is estimated to be ±0.5 mm, what
should the ratio d/D be in order for the error associated with pressure
measurement not to exceed 2.5% of the full scale?

A) d/D = 0.04
B) d/D = 0.10
C) d/D = 0.16
D) d/D = 0.22

5
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
u Problem 14 (Çengel & Cimbala, 2014, w/ permission)
Consider the system illustrated below. If a change in 0.9 kPa in the
pressure of air causes the brine-mercury interface in the right column to drop by
5 mm while the pressure in the brine pipe remains constant, determine the ratio
A1/A2.

A) A2/A1 = 0.151
B) A2/A1 = 0.245
C) A2/A1 = 0.322
D) A2/A1 = 0.434

SOLUTIONS

P.1CSolution
The system is illustrated below.

The gage pressure is related to the vertical distance h between the two
fluid levels by

pgage = ρ gh

All we have to do is solve for h,

pgage
pgage= ρ gh → h=
ρg
65, 000
∴h
= = 0.49
= m 49 cm
13, 600 × 9.81
c The correct answer is D.

P.2CSolution
The system is illustrated below.

6
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
 The height of water column in the left arm of the manometer is hw,1 = 0.70
m. As for the right arm, we let the height of water and oil therein be hw,2 and hoil,
respectively. According to the problem statement, hoil = 6hw,2. Both arms are open
to the atmosphere and the atmospheric pressure is denoted as patm. The pressure
at the bottom of the tube is pbottom. We can write, for the left half of the tube,

= patm + ρ w ghw,1
pbottom

and, for the right half,

patm + ρ w ghw,2 + ρoil ghoil

pbottom =

Equating the two expressions and manipulating, we obtain

= patm + ρ w ghw,1 (I)

 pbottom

patm + ρ w ghw,2 + ρoil ghoil (II)
 pbottom =

patm + ρ w ghw,2 + ρoil ghoil

∴ (I) = (II) → patm + ρ w ghw,1 =

∴ ρ w ghw,1 = ρ w ghw,2 + ρoil ghoil

∴ ρ w ghw,1 = ρ w ghw,2 + 6 ρoil ghw,2

∴ ρ w g hw,1 = ρ w g hw,2 + 6 ρoil g hw,2

∴ ρ w hw,1 =ρ w hw,2 + 6 ρoil hw,2 =( ρ w + 6 ρoil ) hw,2

ρw 1000
∴ hw,2
= = hw,1 = × 70 12.2 cm
ρ w + 6 ρoil 1000 + 6 × 790

Finally, noting that ℎoil = 6ℎ𝑤𝑤,2 , we conclude that the height of oil in the
right arm is ℎoil = 6 × 12.2 = 73.2 cm.

c The correct answer is B.

P.3CSolution
All we have to do is balance pressures in a specified level of the U-tube at,
say, the level established in the figure below.

Let 𝜌𝜌fluid be the density of the unknown fluid, and 𝛾𝛾 the specific weight
we’re looking for. Pressures in the left arm will be accounted for in the left-hand
side of the equation, while pressures in the right arm are computed in the right-
hand side. Accordingly, we write

ρ w g ( 0.60 − 0.14
= ) 
ρfluid g ( 0.33 − 0.14 ) + ρ w g ( 0.49 − 0.33)
=γ

∴ γ ( 0.33 − 0.14
= ) ρ w g ( 0.60 − 0.14 ) − ρ w g ( 0.49 − 0.33)
ρ g ( 0.60 − 0.14 ) − ρ w g ( 0.49 − 0.33)
∴γ = w
( 0.33 − 0.14 )
1000 × 9.81× ( 0.60 − 0.14 ) − 1000 × 9.81× ( 0.49 − 0.33)
∴γ = 15.5 kN m3
0.33 − 0.14
c The correct answer is C.

7
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
P.4CSolution
Noting that pressure is force per unit area, the gage pressure in the fluid
under the load is given by the ratio of the weight to the circular area of the lift.
Mathematically,

W mg 500 × 9.81
pgage
= = = = 4.34 kPa
A π D 4 π × 1.22 4
2

Next, the required oil height h that will cause a pressure increase of 4.34
kPa is

pgage
pgage= ρ gh → h=
ρg
4340
∴
= h = 0.567
= 56.7 cm
780 × 9.81
Thus, the 500 kg load can be raised by simply raising the oil level in the
tube by little more than half a meter.

c The correct answer is B.

P.5CSolution
We establish the level defined by the red line as a datum.

The force imparted on the piston is 𝑃𝑃 = 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝, where pp is the pressure
acting upon it and Ap is the surface area. Balancing pressures in the leftmost,
wider region of the system and the rightmost arm, we can state that

p p + ρ w gh1 =
ρ Hg gh

∴ p=
p ρ Hg gh − ρ w gh=
1 (ρ Hg h − ρ w h1 ) g

pp
∴= (13, 600 × 0.1 − 1000 × 0.06 ) × 9.81
= 12.75 kPa

The force acting on the piston follows as

P = p p Ap = 12,750 × 0.07 = 893 N

c The correct answer is C.

8
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
P.6CSolution
The free body diagram of the piston is shown below.

Balancing forces in the vertical direction, we write

pA
= patm A + W + Fspring
mg + Fspring
∴ p= patm +
A
Substituting patm = 95 kPa, m = 4 kg, g = 9.81 m/s2, Fspring = 60 N, and A =
35×10 m2, it follows that
-4

pA
= patm A + W + Fspring
4 × 9.81 + 60 1 kPa
∴ p = 95 + −4
× = 123.4 kPa
35 ×10 1000 N m 2

c The correct answer is D.

P.7CSolution
The pressure at point A must be equal to the pressure at point B since the
pressures at equal elevations in a continuous mass of fluid must be the same. We
have

p1 = γ h

and

p2 = γ w h

It is easy to see that these two pressures can only be equal if 𝛾𝛾 = 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 .
However, the specific weight of the fluid is less than that of water, that is, 𝛾𝛾 ≠
𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 . Consequently, the configuration shown in the figure is not possible.

P.8CSolution
Starting with the pressure at the bottom of tank 1 (where the pressure is
p1) and moving along the tube by adding (as we go down) or subtracting (as we go
up) the 𝜌𝜌gh terms until we reach the bottom of tank 2 (where the pressure is p2),
we write

p1 + ρoil g ( h1 + h2 ) − ρ Hg gh2 − ρoil gh1 =

p2

9
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
where h1 = 25 cm. and h2 = 81 cm. Manipulating the relation above, pressure
difference Δ𝑝𝑝 is found to be

p1 + ρoil g ( h1 + h2 ) − ρ Hg gh2 − ρoil gh1 =

p2
∴ p1 + ρoil gh1 + ρoil gh2 − ρ Hg gh2 − ρoil gh1 =p2

∴ p1 − p2 =ρoil gh1 + ρ Hg gh2 − ρoil gh2 − ρoil gh1

∴ p1 − p2=
 (ρ Hg − ρoil ) gh2
= ∆p

∴∆
=p (ρ Hg − ρoil ) gh2

Lastly, we substitute 𝜌𝜌Hg = 13,600 kg/m3, 𝜌𝜌oil = 800 kg/m3, g = 9.81 m/s2,
and h2 = 81 cm, with the result that

p
∆= (ρ Hg − ρoil ) gh=
2 (13,600 − 800 ) × 9.81 × 0.81
= 101.7 kPa

c The correct answer is A.

P.9CSolution
Starting with the pressure of air in the tank, and moving along the tube
by adding (as we go down) or subtracting (as we go up), we account for the 𝜌𝜌gh
terms and other pressure terms, including the atmospheric pressure. The balance
is

pair + ρ1 gh1 − ρ 2 gh2 =

patm

Denoting the density of water as 𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤 , we can write

pair + ρ1 gh1 − ρ 2 gh2 =

patm
∴ pair + SG1 ρ w gh1 − SG2 ρ w gh2 =
patm

 1 
∴ SG2 ρ w gh2 = pair − patm + SG1 ρ w gh1  × 
 ρ w gh2 
pair − patm h
SG2
∴= + SG1 × 1
ρ w gh2 h2

Finally, we substitute pair = 76 kPa, patm = 100 kPa, 𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤 = 1000 kg/m3, g = 9.81
m/s2, h1 = 0.22 m, h2 = 0.40 m, and SG1 = 13.55 to obtain

pair − patm h1 76,000 − 100,000 0.22

SG2
= + SG=
1× + 13.55 ×= 1.34
ρ w gh2 h2 1000 × 9.81 × 0.40 0.40

c The correct answer is B.

P.10CSolution
The system in question is illustrated below.

Starting with the pressure in the water pipe (point A) and moving along
the tube by adding (as we go down) or subtracting (as we go up) to account for
the 𝜌𝜌gh terms until we reach the oil pipe (point B), we can state that

10
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
 p A + ρ w gh1 + ρ Hg gh2 − ρgly gh3 + ρoil gh4 =
pB

Each height h is indicated in the previous figure. Rearranging and

introducing the definition of specific gravity, we can obtain the desired pressure
difference,

p A + ρ w gh1 + ρ Hg gh2 − ρgly gh3 + ρoil gh4 =

pB
∴ pB − p=
A ρ w gh1 + ρ Hg gh2 − ρgly gh3 + ρoil gh4
− p A SGw ρ w gh1 + SGHg ρ w gh2 − SGgly ρ w gh3 + SGoil ρ w gh4
∴ pB=

=1

∴ pB − p A = ( h1 + SGHg h2 − SGgly h3 + SGoil h4 ) ρ w g

∴∆p = ( 0.55 + 13.5 × 0.20 − 1.26 × 0.42 + 0.88 × 0.10 )

 1 kN 
×1000 × 9.81 × 2 
27.6 kPa
=
 1000 kg ⋅ m s 
c The correct answer is B.

P.11CSolution
The system is illustrated below.

Initially, equilibrium of pressures enables us to write

p + γ w h1 + γ gly h2 =
0

After the pressure is applied, we have

p + ∆p + γ w ( h1 + x ) + γ gly ( h2 − x ) − γ gly ∆h = 0

On the other hand, due to continuity, the following relation between

volumes is possible,

π D2 πd2
=x ∆h
4 4
π d2 4
∴x = × ∆h
4 π D2
2 2
d  3 
∴
= x   =
∆h   ∆h
D  30 
∴ x= 0.01∆h
The first equation can be rearranged as

p + γ w h1 + γ gly h2 =→
0 p=−γ w h1 − γ gly h2

Then, we can substitute in the second equation and expand,

p + ∆p + γ w ( h1 + x ) + γ gly ( h2 − x ) − γ gly ∆h = 0

∴ ( −γ w h1 − γ gly h2 ) + ∆p + γ w ( h1 + x ) + γ gly ( h2 − x ) − γ gly ∆h = 0

∴− γ w h1 − γ gly h2 + ∆p + γ w h1 + γ w x + γ gly h2 − γ gly x − γ gly ∆h =0

11
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
 ∴∆p + γ w x − γ gly x − γ gly ∆h = 0

∴∆p + γ w x − γ gly ( x + ∆h ) = 0

∴∆
= p γ gly ( x + ∆h ) − γ w x

Recalling that x = 0.01Δh and substituting, pressure difference Δ𝑝𝑝 is

determined to be

∆p γ gly ( x + ∆h ) − γ w x
=

∴∆p γ gly ( 0.01∆h + ∆h ) − γ w × 0.01∆h

=

∴∆p γ gly ( 0.01 + 1) − 0.01γ w  ∆h

=

∴∆p
= (1.01γ gly − 0.01γ w ) ∆h

∴∆
=p (1.01×1.26 × 9810 − 0.01× 9810 ) × 0.07
= 867 Pa

c The correct answer is D.

P.12CSolution
The system is illustrated below.

Starting with the pressure in the tank A and moving along the tube by
adding (as we go down) or subtracting (as we go up) the pressure (=𝜌𝜌gh) terms
until we reach tank B, and setting the result equal to pB, we obtain

p A + ρ w ga + ρ Hg g ( 2a ) − ρ w ga = pB
∴ p A + ρ Hg g ( 2a ) =
pB
2 ρ Hg ga
∴ pB − p A =

Solving for length a and substituting the known values, we see that

pB − p A

 
pB − p A = 20,000 20,000
p A 2 ρ Hg ga →
pB −= = a = = = 0.075
= m 7.5 cm
2 ρ Hg g 27.2 ρ w g 27.2 × 1000 × 9.81

=13.6 ρ w

Finally, from the geometry of the left branch of the manometer, we have

2a 2 × 7.5
sin
= θ = = 0.56
26.8 26.8
∴θ =arcsin 0.56

∴θ =
34o

c The correct answer is C.

12
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
P.13CSolution
The system in question is illustrated below.

Equating pressures, we can write

p
= x + L sin θ
γ
From the geometry of the device, we have

π D2 πd2
x× L×
=
4 4
2
d
∴x =  L
D
Substituting in the first equation gives

p
= x + L sin θ
γ
2
p d
=   L + L sin θ
∴
γ D

p  d  2 
=
∴ L   + sin θ 
γ  D  

 d  2 
∴ p γ L   + sin θ 
=
 D  
In order to obtain the reading error in “L”, we differentiate p with respect
to L,

 d  2 
=p γ L   + sin θ 
 D  

dp  d  2 
∴= γ   + sin θ 
dL  D  

 d  2 
∴
= dp γ   + sin θ  dL
 D  

Dividing the result above by p gives

dp  d 
2
 dL
=   + sin θ 
p  D   p γ
From the given data, dp/p = 0.025, sin 𝜃𝜃 = sin 30o = 0.5, 𝑝𝑝⁄𝛾𝛾 = 100/9810 =
0.0102 = 10.2 mm, and dL = 0.5 mm. Accordingly,

13
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
 dp  d  2  dL
=   + sin θ 
p  D   p γ

 d  2  0.5
∴ 0.025 =   + 0.5
 D   10.2
2
d 0.025 ×10.2
∴  =+ 0.5 = 0.51
D 0.5
2
d
0.01
∴  =
D
d
∴ 0.1
=
D

That is to say, the diameter of the thin tube section should be one tenth
of the diameter of the wide region.

c The correct answer is B.

P.14CSolution
The system is illustrated in continuation.

It is clear from the problem statement and the figure provided that the
brine pressure is much higher than the air pressure, and when the air pressure
drops by, say, 0.9 kPa, the pressure difference between the brine and the air
space also increases by the same amount. Starting with the air pressure (point A)
and moving along the tube by adding (as we go down) or subtracting (as we go up)
the pressure terms until we reach the brine pipe (point B), and setting the result
equal to pB before and after the pressure change of air, we have

Before: pA,1 + ρ w ghw + ρ Hg ghHg,1 − ρ Br ghBr,1 =

pB
After: p A,2 + ρ w ghw + ρ Hg ghHg,2 − ρ Br ghBr,2 =
pB

Subtracting one equation from the other gives

(
pA,1 + ρ w ghw + ρ Hg ghHg,1 − ρ Br ghBr,1 − p A,2 + ρ w ghw + ρ Hg ghHg,2 − ρ Br ghBr,2 )
= pB − pB = 0

∴ pA,1 − pA,2 + ρ Hg g ( hHg,1 − hHg,2 ) + ρ Br g ( hBr,2 − hBr,1 ) =

0

∴ pA,1 − pA,2 − ρ Hg g ∆hHg + ρ Br g ∆hBr =

0

Substituting 𝜌𝜌Hg = 𝑆𝑆𝐺𝐺Hg 𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤 , 𝜌𝜌Br = 𝑆𝑆𝐺𝐺Br 𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤 , and solving for the pressure
difference 𝑝𝑝A,1 − 𝑝𝑝A,2, it follows that

pA,1 − pA,2 − ρ Hg g ∆hHg + ρ Br g ∆hBr =

0
 1 
pA,2 SGHg ρ w g ∆hHg − SGBr ρ w g ∆
∴ pA,1 − = =hBr 0  × 
 ρw g 
p − pA,2
∴ A,1 = SGHg ∆hHg − SGBr ∆hBr = 0 (I)
ρw g

14
© 2020 Montogue Quiz
 Here, ΔℎHg and ΔℎBr are the changes in the differential mercury and brine
column heights, respectively, due to the drop in air pressure. Both of these are
positive quantities since, as the mercury-brine interface drops, the differential
fluid heights for both mercury and brine increase. Noting also that the volume of
mercury is constant and hence we can state, from conservation of mass, that
𝐴𝐴1 ΔℎHg,left = 𝐴𝐴2 ΔℎHg,right . In addition,

−900 N m 2
−0.9 kPa =
pA,2 − pA,1 =

and ΔℎBr = 0.005 m. The variation on the level of mercury, in turn, is

A2  A 
∆hHg = ∆hHg,right + ∆hHg,left = ∆hBr + ∆hBr × = ∆hBr 1 + 2 
A1  A1 

Inserting these results into equation (I) and manipulating, we obtain

pA,1 − pA,2
= SGHg ∆hHg − SGBr ∆hBr = 0
ρw g

900   A 
∴ = 13.56 ×  ∆hBr 1 + 2   − 1.1× ∆=
hBr 0
1000 × 9.81   A1  

900   A     A2  
∴ = 13.56 1 + 2  − 1.1 ∆h=
Br 13.56 1 +  − 1.1 × 0.005
1000 × 9.81   A1     A1  
 A  900
∴13.56 1 + 2  − 1.1 =
 A1  1000 × 9.81× 0.005

A2
∴ 0.434
=
A1

That is to say, the area of the right column should be about 40% of the
area of the wider column.

c The correct answer is D.

ANSWER SUMMARY
Problem 1 D
Problem 2 B
Problem 3 C
Problem 4 B
Problem 5 C
Problem 6 D
Problem 7 Open-ended pb.
Problem 8 A
Problem 9 B
Problem 10 B
Problem 11 D
Problem 12 C
Problem 13 B
Problem 14 D

REFERENCES
• ÇENGEL, Y., and CIMBALA, J. (2014). Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and
Applications. 3rd edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• MUNSON, B., YOUNG, D., OKIISHI, T., and HUEBSCH, W. (2009).
Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. 6th edition. Hoboken: John Wiley and
Sons.

Got any questions related to this quiz? We can help!

Send a message to contact@montogue.com and we’ll
answer your question as soon as possible.

15
© 2020 Montogue Quiz