Integration application, force due to fluid pressure

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 4K views
dimpledur
Messages
193
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



I'm working on a particular problem that involves the force on a face of a triangular prism under water. What I am wondering is if someone could explain how to find dA for the prism? If the prism is an equilateral triangle, then [tex]dA=\sqrt3dy[/tex] doesn't it? My book is showing that the area is [tex]2\sqrt3ydy[/tex] and I really cannot see how...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I understand that the thickness is sqrt(3)dy, but I can't seem to visualize how the width is 2y and thus dA=sqrt(3)2y dy