Fluid Mechanics Lab#1 Engineering Lab Report Essay

Fluid Mechanics Lab
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Introduction and Objectives
Pressure is one of the most important physical quantities; it is involved in almost all fields, ranging from fluid and solid mechanics to thermodynamics (Arnal & Millan, 2013). It’s safe to say that pressure is a scalar physical quantity that has its own magnitude but no direction. It is actually the force applied perpendicularly to every unit area of the given surface. It is possible to express pressure in the form of units, depending on the context of use (Delplace, 2016). A solid exerts a particular pressure on the surface upon which it remains in contact. Similarly, gases and liquids exert particular pressures on their relevant objects or surfaces.
The core objectives of this lab are as follows:
1 To determine the specific weight of a fluid sample.
2 To visualize and understand the pressure are different points of a system, concluding that the pressure varies with depth.
3 To conclude that the pressure remains constant on a horizontal plane.
4 To verify that at a given depth, the pressure remains same both on an angled surface and a vertical surface.
5 To conclude that the pressure can increase linearly if the weight in a cylinder or piston increases.
Equipment/Apparatus and Method
1 A graduated cylinder was required for this lab experiment in order to measure the volume of the given liquid as well as to determine its weight.
2 Another thing that we used to measure the weight was the PASCO Force Sensor, which was mounted on the balance setup.
3 The PASCO Pressure Sensor and the PASCO Temperature Probe were used to measure the temperature and pressure of the given liquid.
4 All of these sensors were carefully connected to the PASCO PowerLink device.
Part A: Method or Procedure -- Verifying the Specific Weight
1 We used a graduated cylinder, the temperature probe, the PASCO weight scale with the force transducer, salt water and cooking oil to determine the weight of every solution.
2 The PowerLink device was connected to the computer system, and then we installed the temperature probe and the force balance in the PowerLink. At this point, we ensured that the force balance before starting the experiment was zero.
3 Then we started the data collection software and measured the weight of the empty container, followed by recording the value.
4 A specific amount of the liquid was added to the container, and then we recorded the value as well as measured the volume.
5 The temperature of the liquid was measured with the help of the temperature probe, and then we recorded the results.
6 In the next step, we placed the container on the scale and recorded the weight.
7 The same process was repeated four to seven times using different volumes.
8 The weight of empty container was subtracted from the total number of measured weight in order to find out the actual weight of the given liquid. Then we recorded the weight on the data form and calculated γ (gamma-specific weight) by dividing the weight by the volume. The average of every lab experiment was then taken.
9 For the container that had water in it, we used the water temperature data to verify the specific weight of the solution.
10 This step was repeated four to six times using the cooking oil and the salt water solution. In addition to the specific weight, we determined specific gravity (S) of all the liquids by dividing the specific weight of each of them by the specific weight of water.
The hydrometers were used for measuring the specific gravity of given solutions.
Part B: Method or Procedure – Measuring the Pressure at Various Points in a System
1 First of all, we designed a data collection form for recording the information.
2 The water column apparatus was filled with sufficient water, and its level was kept below the top of the column.
3 Then we used a tape measure for recording the depth of every pressure tap. We referenced our measurements from a certain, fixed point on the device.
4 The PASCO temperature probe was then used for measuring the temperature of the given liquid and for recording the data accurately.
5 In the next step, we used the PASCO pressure transducer for measuring the atmospheric pressure and made sure that there was no water in the tube connecter to the sensor as this could cause the current to flow from the tube and could hinder our experiment. The result was recorded at this stage.
6 In the next step, we made use of the PASCO pressure transducer for getting the pressure at every location, and for recording the results. This value was the absolute pressure.
7 The experiment was repeated two to three times in order to determine the accurate pressure datasets.
8 With the help of a screwdriver, we opened the ports on the side of the device and observed the water as it discharged.
Part C – Procedure or Method – Verifying the Relationship of Weight and Pressure
1 This was done with the help of the pressure-gauge calibration unit.
2 We measured and recorded the diameter of the piston in the first step, which was attached to the weight carrier.
3 Then we recorded the listed theoretical p...