Hydrostatic force worksheet with answers

Free printable Hydrostatic force worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
h = 5 m

Water stands 5 m deep against a vertical wall 4 m wide. Find the resultant hydrostatic force F on the wall.

h = 5 mb = 4 mρ = 1000 kg/m³g = 9.81 m/s²
F = kN
2.Easy
h = 3 m

Water stands 3 m deep against a vertical wall. Find the height ȳ above the base at which the resultant force acts.

h = 3 mb = 4 mρ = 1000 kg/m³g = 9.81 m/s²
ȳ = m
3.Medium
gated = 0.5 mH = 2 m

A vertical rectangular gate 2 m wide sits in the wall of a tank of water, with its top edge 0.5 m below the surface. Find the resultant hydrostatic force F on the gate.

d = 0.5 mH = 2 mb = 2 mρ = 1000 kg/m³g = 9.81 m/s²
F = kN
4.Medium
gated = 1.5 mH = 1.5 m

A vertical rectangular gate 1 m wide sits in the wall of a tank of water, with its top edge 1.5 m below the surface. Find the resultant hydrostatic force F on the gate.

d = 1.5 mH = 1.5 mb = 1 mρ = 1000 kg/m³g = 9.81 m/s²
F = kN
5.Hard
gated = 4 mH = 1 m

A vertical rectangular gate 3 m wide sits in the wall of a tank of oil, with its top edge 4 m below the surface. Find the depth ycp of the centre of pressure below the surface.

d = 4 mH = 1 mb = 3 mρ = 880 kg/m³g = 9.81 m/s²
ycp = m
6.Hard
gated = 2 mH = 2 m

A vertical rectangular gate 1 m wide sits in the wall of a tank of oil, with its top edge 2 m below the surface. Find the depth ycp of the centre of pressure below the surface.

d = 2 mH = 2 mb = 1 mρ = 880 kg/m³g = 9.81 m/s²
ycp = m

Answer key

  1. 1. F = 490.5 kN
  2. 2. ȳ = 1 m
  3. 3. F = 58.86 kN
  4. 4. F = 33.11 kN
  5. 5. ycp = 4.519 m
  6. 6. ycp = 3.111 m

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