Name: ROALLOS, GENE LOWELLE A.

Date: April 8, 2024

Course, Year, & Section: BSCE-1C Group No.: 4

Experiment 6
LIQUID PRESSURE

Initial Readings
OP: 13.3 cm OQ: 13.3 cm OP – OQ = 0

A. Variation of Liquid Pressure with Depth

Table A
Liquid Pressure with Depth (Probe Down)

Depth (cm) OP (cm) OQ (cm) OP – OQ (cm)

0 13.3 13.3 0
3 14 12.7 1.3
6 14.5 12.3 2.2
9 15.1 11.5 3.6

OP – OQ vs. Depth Graph

Analysis of the Graph
In the graph, it is evident that as the depth increases, the pressure also increases. The pressure,
which initially measured a total difference of 1.3 cm at a depth of 3 cm, increased to 2.2 cm when
the depth was raised to 6 cm. Similarly, when the depth was further increased to 9 cm, the pressure
showed a similar increase to 3.6 cm. This is because as depth increases, more water accumulates
above, leading to a greater weight pushing downward. This increase in weight consequently drives
an increase in pressure, explaining the increase in pressure with depth.

B. Variation of Liquid Pressure with Direction taken in the Liquid

Table B
Liquid Pressure with Direction

Probe Down Probe

(Copy Table A) to the right to the left
Depth OP OQ OP – OQ OP OQ OP – OQ OP OQ OP – OQ
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
0 13.3 13.3 0 13.3 13.3 0 13.3 13.3 0
3 14 12.7 1.3 14.8 11.8 3 14.8 11.6 3.2
6 14.5 12.3 2.2 15.8 10.8 5 15.8 10.7 5.1
9 15.1 11.5 3.6 16.5 10 6.5 16.4 10 6.4

OP – OQ vs. Direction Graph

Analysis of the Graph
In the OP-OQ vs. Direction graph from Table B, it's evident that pressure increases with depth,
with the pressure difference for a downward probe rising from 0 to 3.6 cm at 9 cm depth. For
horizontal movements at this same depth, the pressure difference is larger than previously stated,
with a change of 6.5 cm to the right and 6.4 cm to the left. Despite these variations, the changes
are still relatively small compared to the overall pressure increase with depth, illustrating Pascal's
principle. This principle suggests that pressure in a liquid is largely transmitted the same way in
all directions.

However, it's important to note that the container used for the sideways measurements was larger.
This could mean that the pressure differences when moving the probe sideways are influenced by
the greater volume of water, as a larger volume could potentially affect the pressure distribution
due to a change in the force exerted over the probe's surface area. Consequently, while depth
remains the primary factor affecting pressure within a liquid, the container size can have an
observable impact on pressure readings, especially when the probe is oriented horizontally.

C. Variation of Liquid Pressure with Density

Table C
Liquid Pressure with Density

Water (Copy Table A) Kerosene Glycerin

Depth OP OQ OP – OQ OP OQ OP – OQ OP OQ OP – OQ
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
0 13.3 13.3 0 13.3 13.3 0 13.3 13.3 0
3 13.8 12.7 1.1 13.9 12.8 1.1 14.1 12.5 1.6
6 14.3 12.1 2.2 14.4 12.3 2.1 14.7 12.1 2.6
9 15 11.5 3.5 14.9 11.9 3 15.3 11.4 3.9
OP – OQ vs. Density
a. On one scale, construct an OP – OQ vs. Depth graph for the different kinds of liquids.
How do the steepness of the graphs compare?

Analysis of the Graph

The graph indicates that as depth increases, the pressure in each liquid rises. Glycerine, with the
steepest graph, shows the largest pressure change with depth, consistent with its highest density.
Water's graph, while less steep than glycerine's, still indicates a significant increase in pressure,
placing it between glycerine and kerosene. Kerosene's graph has the gentlest slope, which
suggests it has the smallest change in pressure with depth. The steepness comparison of the
graphs highlights the relationship between a liquid's density and the rate at which pressure
increases with depth.

b. At one particular depth, construct an OP – OQ VS. Density graph using the values in
table C. What relationship between liquid pressure and density does the graph indicate?
Analysis of the Graph
The OP-OQ vs. Density graph derived from Table C reveals a direct relationship between liquid
density and pressure: as density goes up, so does the pressure. Glycerine, with the highest density,
shows the largest pressure difference (OP-OQ) at 9 cm depth. Water, with a medium density, has
a moderate pressure difference. Kerosene, the least dense, exhibits the smallest pressure difference.
This trend suggests that the denser the liquid, the greater the pressure it exerts at the same depth.

D. Variation of Liquid Pressure with Cross-section

Table D
Liquid Pressure with Cross-section

Small Cross-section (Copy Table A) Big Cross-section

OP – OQ OP – OQ
Depth (cm) OP (cm) OQ (cm) OP (cm) OQ (cm)
(cm) (cm)
0 13.3 13.3 0 13.3 13.3 0
3 14 12.7 1.3 13.8 12.7 1.1
6 14.5 12.3 2.2 14.3 12.1 2.2
9 15.1 11.5 3.6 15 11.5 3.5

OP – OQ vs. Container Area

Analysis of the Graph
As indicated by the graph, the relationship between liquid pressure and container size is indirect.
The data we obtained in Table A, which used a smaller jar closely resembled those data obtained
in Table B, which used a bigger jar. The only noticeable discrepancy between the two sets of data
is a minor variation, possibly due from experimental errors. To conclude, container size itself does
not directly determine pressure; rather, it is the depth of the liquid within the container that
primarily affects pressure.

CONCLUSION
To determine how liquid pressure varies with the:
a. Depth of the liquid - Two factors influence liquid pressure as it increases in depth. The
fluid's depth and density satisfy these two requirements. As the fluid goes deeper, it exerts
more pressure. Denser fluids, such as water, experience greater pressure than lighter fluids,
such as air. As a result, we can see in this experiment that the liquid pressure varies with
depth in all of the liquids employed. It depends on the liquid being evaluated; the deeper
the OQ, the higher the pressure. As the OQ goes deeper into the liquid, the viscosity of the
substance rises and it faces high pressure.

b. Direction taken of the liquid - The experiment determined the relationship between liquid
pressure and direction. The results showed that the pressure remained relatively constant
regardless of the direction of the liquid flow. At a depth of 9 cm, the right direction had an
OP of 16.5 cm and an OQ of 10 cm, resulting in a total difference of 6.5 cm. The left
 direction had an OP of 16.4 cm and an OQ of 10 cm, resulting in a total difference of 6.4
cm. The same was true at depths of 3 and 6 cm, with minimal disparities of 0.2 and 0.1 cm,
respectively. These findings suggest that liquid pressure remains constant regardless of the
direction of the liquid flow.

c. Density of the liquid - This experiment on liquid pressure and density demonstrates that
the density of a liquid is linked to its pressure at a specific depth. For example, water with
a density of 1 g/cm³ exerted a pressure of 15 cm at a depth of 9 cm, while kerosene with a
lower density of 0.8 g/cm³, had a slightly lesser pressure of 14.9 cm. Glycerin, with a
density of 1.2 g/cm³, pushed the pressure reading to 15.3 cm. This demonstrates the
hydrostatic principle, which states that pressure within a fluid at rest is proportional to both
depth and density.

d. Cross-section of the containing vessel – The analysis reveals that the variation in liquid
pressure with cross-section is primarily influenced by the depth of the liquid within the
container, rather than the size of the container itself. This is supported by the similarity in
pressure measurements between smaller and larger jars, suggesting that the depth of liquid
is the primary factor influencing liquid pressure.

QUESTIONS
1. Why are dams so designed and constructed to have more massive base structures than tops?
Dams are designed with broad base structures for stability and efficient water distribution. They
must be robust enough to withstand the immense pressure exerted by water, and larger bases
increase the dam's ability to absorb ground movements during earthquakes. As we go deeper the
underwater, the pressure increases, constructing a massive base is necessary to prevent structural
failure.
2. What column of water can be supported by a pressure of 9.8 x 10^4 dynes/cm^2?
A pressure of 9.8 x 10^4 dynes/cm^2 can support a water column of approximately 100
centimeters (or 1 meter) in height. This calculation is based on the hydrostatic pressure
formula: P = (p)(g)(h)
(P) represents the pressure
(p) represents the density of water
(g) represents the acceleration due to gravity
(h) represents the height of the fluid column
 Formula: h = P/(p)(g)
The formula states that the height of the water column (h) is equal to the pressure (P) divided
by the product of the water density (d) and the acceleration due to gravity (g).

h = 100 cm
3. What pressure is exerted by a column of mercury 76 cm high? Density of mercury is 13.6
g/cc and gravitational acceleration is 980 cm/s^2.

4. A pail has a bottom 20 cm in diameter and a top 30 cm in diameter. If it is filled with water
to a depth of 18 cm, what is the total force at the bottom?