CED 314 CHAPTER 4
MODULE 1 RELATIVE EQUILIBRIUM OF FLUID
Relative equilibrium occurs when a fluid moves such that there is no relative motion between its
particles, meaning it behaves like a rigid body with no shear stress developed. This typically
happens when a fluid is subjected to uniform acceleration (either linear or rotational). In this state,
the fluid surface adjusts itself so that the resultant of gravity and the inertia forces is always normal
to the free surface.
A. RECTILINEAR TRANSLATION
Relative equilibrium due to rectilinear translation of fluid occurs when a fluid accelerates uniformly
in a straight line, causing the free surface to tilt while maintaining rigid-body behavior. (Could be
horizontal, inclined and vertical)
A.1 Horizontal
Say we have a water tank moving in a uniform acceleration horizontally:
𝛼 − acceleration
𝜃 − angle of inclination
Showing the other forces acting on the tank:
𝑭=𝒎∙𝒂
𝑹 𝑾=𝒎∙𝒈
𝐹 − Reverse Effective Force (𝑁)
𝑊 − weight of the Fluid (𝑁)
Take note: Reverse Effective force always acts opposite to the direction of the acceleration and the
resultant force always acts perpendicular to the surface of the water. For sign convention, (+) for
Upward acceleration and (-) for downward acceleration.
Create a Force Triangle:
Initial fluid surface
𝜽
𝑹 𝑾= 𝒎∙𝒈
𝑭=𝒎∙𝒂
𝐹 𝑚∙𝑎
tan 𝜃 = =
𝑊 𝑚∙𝑔
𝒂
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽 =
𝒈
A.2 Inclined
Say we have a water tank moving in a uniform acceleration in a sloping plain.
𝜶
𝑭= 𝒎∙𝒂
𝑾=𝒎∙𝒈
∝
Create a force triangle:
𝑹
𝑾= 𝒎∙𝒈
𝑭= 𝒎∙𝒂
𝐹 − Reverse Effective Force (𝑁)
Break down 𝑭:
𝑊 − weight of the Fluid (𝑁)
Take note: Reverse Effective force always acts opposite to
the direction of the acceleration and the resultant force
always acts perpendicular to the surface of the water. For
sign convention, (+) for Upward acceleration and (-) for
downward acceleration.
𝑹 𝜽
𝑾= 𝒎∙𝒈
𝑭
𝑭 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝
∝
𝑭 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝
n
𝐹𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝ (𝑚 ∙ 𝑎)𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝
tan 𝜃 = =
𝑊 ± 𝐹𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝ 𝑚 ∙ 𝑔 ± (𝑚 ∙ 𝑎)𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝
𝑚(𝑎)𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝
tan 𝜃 =
𝑚(𝑔 ± 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝)
𝒂 ∙ 𝒔𝒊𝒏 ∝
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽 =
𝒈 ± 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒔 ∝
A.3 Vertical
𝐹𝑏 − Force at the bottom
𝑾= 𝒎∙𝒈
𝑭= 𝒎∙𝒂 This is a force due to the pressure experienced at the
bottom of the tank/container.
∑ 𝐹𝑣 = 0
𝒂 𝐹𝑏 = 𝐹 ± 𝑊
𝒉
𝑃𝑏 ∙ 𝐴 = (𝑚 ∙ 𝑎) ± (𝑚 ∙ 𝑔)
𝑚 =𝜌∙𝑉 ; 𝑉 = 𝐴∙ℎ
𝑃𝑏 ∙ 𝐴 = (𝜌(𝐴 ∙ ℎ) ∙ 𝑎) ± (𝜌(𝐴 ∙ ℎ) ∙ 𝑔)
𝑃𝑏 = (𝜌(ℎ) ∙ 𝑎) ± (𝜌(ℎ) ∙ 𝑔)
𝑭𝒃𝒐𝒕 = 𝑷𝒃𝒐𝒕 ∙ 𝑨
𝛾
𝛾 = 𝜌𝑔 ; 𝜌 = 𝑔
𝛾
𝑃𝑏 = ( (ℎ)(𝑎) ± 𝛾(ℎ)
𝑔
Factor the common term 𝛾(ℎ):
𝒂
𝑷𝒃 = 𝜸(𝒉) (𝟏 ± )
𝒈
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
1. An open rectangular tank mounted on a truck is 5 m long, 2 m wide and 2.5 m high is filled with
water to a depth of 2m,
a. What is the maximum horizontal force that be imposed on the tank without spilling any
water?
b. If the acceleration is 2.5 𝑚/𝑠 2, how much water is spilled?
c. What force acting on the front end of the tank when subjected to this acceleration?
d. If the tank is closed, what will be the maximum force acting on the back face of the tank?
ANSWERS:
1. An open rectangular tank mounted on a truck is 5 m long, 2 m wide and 2.5 m high is filled with
water to a depth of 2m,
a. What is the maximum horizontal force that be imposed on the tank without spilling any
water?
Note: If the scenario assumes that the water only reaches the tip of the back face of the tank without spilling, it is
reasonable to conclude that the intersection between the initial and final water surfaces is located at the center .
𝜽
𝑭 =𝒎∙𝒂
𝑾=𝒎∙𝒈
𝜽 𝑹
𝑾 =𝒎∙𝒈
𝑹
SOLUTION: 𝑭 =𝒎∙𝒂
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan 𝜃 =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
0.5 𝑚 𝟎.𝟓
𝜽 tan 𝜃 = eq. 1
2.5 𝑚 𝜽 𝟐.𝟓
From the derived horizontal equation: eq. 2
𝑎
tan 𝜃 = ; 𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑔
Getting force using the volume of water:
Equate the 2 equations:
𝑚 =𝜌∙𝑉; 𝜌 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
𝑎 0.5
= 𝑭 = 𝒎∙𝒂
𝑔 2.5
𝑎 0.5 𝐹 = 𝜌∙𝑉∙𝑎
=
9.81 2.5
𝐹 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 ∙ (5𝑚)(2𝑚)(2𝑚) ∙ 1.962 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝟐
𝒂 = 𝟏. 𝟗𝟔𝟐 𝒎/𝒔
𝑭 = 𝟑𝟗, 𝟐𝟒𝟎 𝑵
b. If the acceleration is 2.5 𝑚/𝑠 2, how much water is spilled?
Case 1: Case 2:
y y
If 𝑦 < 2.5𝑚 ∴ 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 1
Getting the volume of water spilled:
𝑦 > 2.5𝑚 ∴ 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 2
Note: there are 2 ways to get the volume of water spilled:
𝑦
tan 𝜃 = 𝑒𝑞. 1 A. 𝑽𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 = 𝑽𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍 − 𝑽𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍
5𝑚
𝑎
tan 𝜃 = 𝑒𝑞. 2 B. 𝑽𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 = 𝑽𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 − 𝑽𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍
𝑔
Based on Case 1, we can apply Equation B to determine the
Equate the 2 equations:
volume, since the remaining air volume at the final condition
𝑎 𝑦 forms a triangular cross-section. This geometric simplification
=
𝑔 5 allows for easier and more accurate computation of the volume.
2.5 𝑦 𝑉𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = 𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 − 𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙
=
9.81 5
𝒚 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟕𝟒 𝒎 < 2.5𝑚 ∴ 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 1 1
𝑉𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 = 𝐿 ∙ 𝑊 ∙ 𝐻 ; 𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑐 = 𝐿 ∙ 𝑊 ∙ 𝐻
2
1
𝑉𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 = (5𝑚)(2𝑚)(1.274𝑚) − (5𝑚)(2𝑚)(0.5𝑚)
2
𝑽𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟕𝒎𝟑
c. What force acting on the front end of the tank when subjected to this acceleration?
Continuation of b. therefore 𝑎 = 2.5 𝑚/𝑠2
Side: Front:
y = 1.274 m
2.5 m
𝐹ℎ
2.5m - 1.274 m = 1.226 m
Hydrostatic force acting on the front face of the tank:
𝐹ℎ = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
1.226𝑚
𝐹ℎ = (9.81)( )(1.226𝑚)(2𝑚)
2
𝑭𝒉 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟕𝟒𝟓 𝒌𝑵
d. If the tank is closed, what will be the maximum force acting on the back face of the tank?
Since tank is closed (No water will spill):
Case 1: Case 2:
𝑥 𝑥
𝜃
𝜃
𝑦
If 𝑦 < 2.5𝑚 ∴ 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 1
Assuming case 1: applies when the depth y of the
𝑦 > 2.5𝑚 ∴ 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 2 line intersection point is less than 2.5 m, meaning
Since the tank is closed, no water will spill out. the ray stays inside the water and hits the side wall
Therefore, the initial volume of water is equal to above the bottom.
the final volume of water. The same principle 𝑦
tan 𝜃 = 𝑒𝑞. 1
applies to the trapped air, whose volume before 𝑥
and after the motion must remain the same. 𝑎
tan 𝜃 = 𝑒𝑞. 2
𝑔
𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 Equate eq. 1 and eq. 2:
𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 𝑉𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝟐. 𝟓 𝒚
= 𝒆𝒒. 𝟑
𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 𝒙
Another eq. considering Volume:
ℎ
𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙
1
(0.5𝑚)(2𝑚)(5𝑚) = (2𝑚)𝑥𝑦
𝑦 2
𝟓 = 𝒙𝒚 𝒆𝒒. 𝟒
𝐹ℎ
∴ 𝒙 = 𝟒. 𝟒𝟐𝟗 𝒎
Getting h by similar triangle/ ration and proportion: ∴ 𝒚 = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟐𝟗 𝒎 < 2.5𝑚
∴ 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒 1 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒.
𝐹ℎ = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
1.129 ℎ
= Imaginary height of the water
4.429 5 − 4.429
∴ 𝒉 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒𝟔𝒎 ℎ = 0.146 𝑚
Hydrostatic force acting on the back face of the tank: Type equation here.
𝐹ℎ = 𝛾ℎ̅𝐴
5𝑚
𝐹ℎ = (9.81)(ℎ + )(2.5𝑚)(2𝑚) 𝐹ℎ
2
5𝑚
𝐹ℎ = (9.81)(0.146𝑚 + )(2.5𝑚)(2𝑚)
2
𝑭𝒉 = 𝟔𝟖. 𝟒𝟕𝟒 𝒌𝑵
ASSIGNMENT:
Due on Thursday (Nov. 6, 2025) on or before 5PM
1. An open tank in the shape of cube of 500 mm side is filled with oil (sg = 0.88). It is accelerated
uniformly at 5 𝑚/𝑠 2 up a long straight incline of 15 degrees. Determine the angle of inclination
of the fluid surface.
2. An open tank is filled with gasoline (sg= 0.78) and is accelerated vertically at 4 𝑚/𝑠 2 . Determine
the pressure at a point 5 m below the surface if the motion is:
a. Upward
b. Downward
