Name:
Year and Section:
Problem Sets BOUYANCY
Problem Set 1: Basic Buoyancy
1. A wooden block with a density of 500 kg/m³ is floating in water (density: 1000 kg/m³). If the block's volume
is 0.2 m³, how much of the block is submerged?
Hint: Use the principle of buoyancy and equilibrium.
Problem Set 2: Sinking Object
2. A metal sphere with a mass of 5 kg and a volume of 0.002 m³ is submerged in water. What is the net force
acting on the sphere?
Hint: Calculate the buoyant force and compare it to the weight of the object.
Problem Set 3: Density and Buoyancy
3. A cube made of an unknown material float in oil (density: 800 kg/m³) with 75% of its volume submerged.
What is the density of the cube?
Hint: Relate the weight of the cube to the buoyant force.
Problem Set 4: Fully Submerged Object
4. A diver holds a completely submerged plastic container in seawater (density: 1025 kg/m³). The container
has a volume of 0.01 m³. Calculate the buoyant force acting on the container.
Hint: Use Archimedes' principle.
Problem Set 5: Multi-fluid Systems
5. A cylindrical object with a height of 10 cm floats at the interface of oil (density: 850 kg/m³) and water, with 3
cm submerged in the oil. If the object has a cross-sectional area of 0.01 m², calculate its mass.
Hint: Consider the buoyant forces from both fluids.
Problem Set 6: Fluid Displacement
6. A solid block with a density of 2400 kg/m³ and a volume of 0.005 m³ is dropped into a tank of mercury
(density: 13500 kg/m³). Will it float or sink? If it floats, how much of the block will be submerged?
Hint: Compare the densities.
Problem Set 7: Buoyancy and Apparent Weight
7. A 10 kg object is fully submerged in water while suspended by a spring scale. What will the scale read?
Hint: Apparent weight = Actual weight - Buoyant force.
Problem Set 8: Pressure and Depth
8. An air-filled balloon with a volume of 0.02 m³ is submerged to a depth of 5 m in water. If atmospheric
pressure is 101,325 Pa and water density is 1000 kg/m³, calculate the total buoyant force acting on the
balloon.
Hint: Consider pressure at the depth and the volume of the balloon.
Problem Set 9: Ship Stability
9. A rectangular ship has dimensions 20 m × 5 m × 3 m and weighs 200,000 N. If it is placed in freshwater, how
deep will it sink?
Hint: Equate the ship's weight to the buoyant force.
Problem Set 10: Buoyancy in a Gas
10. A helium balloon with a volume of 0.5 m³ is released in air (density: 1.2 kg/m³). The density of helium is 0.18
kg/m³. What is the net upward force acting on the balloon?
Hint: Account for the weight of helium and the displaced air.
Name:
Year and Section:
Principles of HYDROSTATICS
Problem Set 1: Pressure on a Vertical Plane
1. A vertical rectangular gate is submerged in water. The gate is 2 m wide and 3 m tall, with the top edge
located 1 m below the water surface. Calculate the total hydrostatic force on the gate and the depth of the
center of pressure.
Hint: Use the equation for hydrostatic force and center of pressure.
Problem Set 2: Inclined Plane Surface
2. A plane surface (1.5 m wide and 2 m long) is inclined at 30° to the horizontal and is fully submerged in
water. The top edge is 1 m below the water surface. Find the total hydrostatic force and the location of the
center of pressure.
Hint: Account for the inclination in pressure calculations.
Problem Set 3: Horizontal Circular Plate
3. A horizontal circular plate with a diameter of 2 m is submerged in water with its top at a depth of 4 m below
the surface. Calculate the hydrostatic force acting on the plate.
Hint: The pressure is constant over the surface for horizontal plates.
Problem Set 4: Curved Surface - Semicircular Gate
4. A semicircular gate (radius = 1.5 m) is submerged vertically in water, with its flat edge at the surface.
Calculate the horizontal and vertical components of the hydrostatic force acting on the gate.
Hint: Break the force into components using symmetry and volume of water above the curve.
Problem Set 5: Trapezoidal Gate
5. A trapezoidal gate (top width = 2 m, bottom width = 3 m, height = 1.5 m) is submerged vertically in water,
with its top edge 2 m below the water surface. Determine the total hydrostatic force and the center of
pressure.
Hint: Use the area and centroid of a trapezoid.
Problem Set 6: Hydrostatic Force on a Dam Wall
6. A dam wall is shaped like a vertical rectangle, 10 m wide and 15 m tall. The top edge of the dam wall is at
the water surface. Calculate the total hydrostatic force and the location of the center of pressure.
Hint: Treat the wall as a flat surface.
Problem Set 7: Tank with a Curved Surface
7. A cylindrical water tank has a radius of 1 m and height of 3 m. Calculate the total hydrostatic force on the
curved surface of the tank when it is filled with water.
Hint: Consider the lateral pressure distribution along the curved surface.
Problem Set 8: Submerged Triangular Plate
8. A triangular plate (base = 1 m, height = 2 m) is submerged in water with its vertex pointing downward. The
base of the triangle is located 3 m below the water surface. Calculate the total hydrostatic force and the
depth of the center of pressure.
Hint: Use the area and centroid of a triangle.
Problem Set 9: Submerged Cylinder
9. A horizontal cylinder with a diameter of 1 m and length of 4 m is submerged in water such that its axis is 2 m
below the water surface. Calculate the total hydrostatic force acting on the cylinder.
Hint: Consider the pressure distribution along the curved surface of the cylinder.
Problem Set 10: Hydrostatic Force on a Hinged Gate
10. A rectangular gate (2 m wide and 4 m tall) is hinged at its top edge and submerged vertically in water. The
top edge is 1 m below the water surface. Calculate the total hydrostatic force acting on the gate and the
moment about the hinge.
Hint: Use the center of pressure to determine the force location.
