Why Is My Fluid Mechanics Solution Incorrect?

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The discussion revolves around a student's struggle with a fluid mechanics problem regarding pressure and forces on a cylinder submerged in water. The student is confused about calculating the pressure at different depths and the resultant forces acting on the cylinder's surfaces. Key points include the need to understand the pressure distribution, the difference between mass and weight, and how to resolve forces into components. Despite attempts to clarify the problem, the student continues to seek help due to misunderstandings about the lecturer's expectations and the ambiguity of the problem's diagram. The conversation highlights the complexities of fluid mechanics and the importance of clear communication in solving such problems.
  • #31
Hi iSimon,

I really don't know how to answer you. The original diagram of the system was very ambiguous, and we took our best shot at trying to figure out what it was indicating. But, if we guessed wrong, then we were solving the wrong problem. The region of the figure that is most confusing is the left hand side where the water just seems to end at a slanted plane. I don't know whether this is a solid boundary, or what.

From your rendering of your teacher's explanation, it isn't clear to me what she is saying.

What i am confident about is that our solution to the problem as we interpreted it is correct. If it were not correct, we wouldn't have satisfied the check that the force on the curved surface is perpendicular to the axis.

I would be glad to help you some more if we could get some clarification on the figure.

Chet
 
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  • #32
Here is the main idea on how to solve.

jUPq9BJ.jpg


If we transpose nodes of the cylinder to the right side we will receive figure which will be composed from 2 identical elipses on top and bottom and two identical rectangulars in middle.

wuaUNb5.jpg


And the thing is to add Areas of separate parts multiplied by center of gravity. Sum them up and receive force which will act on horizontal axis in the right direction. But I am a bit lost in trygonometry to find proper values to calculate areas of elipse and rectangulars. Maybe This time I;ve managed to think better, I spoke to my teacher and she says its good solution but I need to calculate it.
 
  • #33
Sorry. I still don't understand the geometry.

Chet
 

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