# Homework Help: Total force on the dam

1. Aug 12, 2011

### GreenPrint

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

The following figures show the shape and dimensions of small dmas.
Assuming the water level is at the top of the dam, find the total force on that face of the dam.

There's a figure of a hemisphere whose diameter is 40 meters

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

So it's radius is 20 meters. I'm struggling with this problem with trying to determine the function for the radius in terms of y so that way I can find the total force. Sense this is a hemisphere shape I can't use similar triangles but is the ratio of height, y, to length of the diameter, still 1 to 2? I just wanted to make sure I could before I started solving this problem. I know what to do if I can make this assumption I just wanted to make sure it was a valid assumption.

2. Aug 12, 2011

### HallsofIvy

There is no figure so I don't know exactly what you mean. But it seems very strange that a dam face would be a three dimensional figure! Are you sure the dam face is not a semicircle?

If it is a semicircle, of radius 20, with the straight diameter at the top, then, taking the origin at the center of that diameter, $x^2+ y^2= 400$, so that $x= \pm\sqrt{400- y^2}$. So the length of a line across the face at depth y is $2\sqrt{400- y^2}$.

3. Aug 12, 2011

### GreenPrint

My bad. Yes it is and thanks. I thought I had to apply some similar shape thing as that's what I have been doing but I forgot about x^2 + y^2 = r^2 thanks