Hydrostatics Problem (Why is this Wrong?)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Saladsamurai
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Hydrostatics
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a hydrostatics problem involving the calculation of the vertical force component related to the weight of missing water. Participants are examining the volume calculations of a rectangular prism and a quarter cylinder to determine discrepancies in their approach compared to a provided solution.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the volume of missing water using the dimensions of a rectangular prism and a quarter cylinder but questions the correctness of their volume calculation. Some participants express confusion over the dimensional consistency of the solution provided, while others suggest there may be a typo in the second term of the solution.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants raising questions about the calculations and expressing frustration over potential errors in the provided solution. There is no explicit consensus, but some participants are exploring the possibility of a typo affecting the interpretation of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules and are attempting to reconcile their calculations with those presented in a solution that they find unclear or incorrect.

Saladsamurai
Messages
3,009
Reaction score
7
Picture1-32.png


In calculating the vertical force component, you want to find the weight of the missing water.

This should be simple: Find the Volume of the missing water and multiply by specific weight.

Why is my volume calculation incorrect? I am using the volume of the rectangular prism whose top coincides with the surface and whose base coincides with B. Then I subtract the volume of the quarter cylinder:

[tex]V_{Tot}=V_{rect}-.25V_{cyl}[/tex]

[tex]V_{rect}=(1.5+0.75)(0.75)(1.2)[/tex]

[tex].25*V_{cyl}=.25*(\pi (0.75)^2(1.2)[/tex]

But this does not give the correct volume. The solution says to use:

Picture2-19.png


I am failing miserably to see how my method is different from theirs? Am I messing up a dimension here?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Aaahhhhhhhh! My brain!

Edit: How does what they wrote even make any sense?

The first term has dimensions of m^3 and the second has dimensions of m^2 !

Not to mention, if you put those numbers into your calculator they do not equal what they are saying they equal. WTF
 
Last edited:
It looks like the second term in their solution has a typo: They left off the factor of 1.2m.
 
Doc Al said:
It looks like the second term in their solution has a typo: They left off the factor of 1.2m.

Yeah. I think that makes it equivalent to mine if you tack that on.

Sometimes it does not help to be able to check your answers.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
6K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
8K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
6K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
5K