Paper 2, Section I, D

Fluid Dynamics | Part IB, 2011

A body of volume VV lies totally submerged in a motionless fluid of uniform density ρ\rho. Show that the force F\mathbf{F} on the body is given by

F=S(pp0)ndS\mathbf{F}=-\int_{S}\left(p-p_{0}\right) \mathbf{n} d S

where pp is the pressure in the fluid and p0p_{0} is atmospheric pressure. You may use without proof the generalised divergence theorem in the form

SϕndS=VϕdV\int_{S} \phi \mathbf{n} d S=\int_{V} \boldsymbol{\nabla} \phi d V

Deduce that

F=ρgVz^,\mathbf{F}=\rho g V \hat{\mathbf{z}},

where z^\hat{\mathbf{z}} is the vertically upward unit vector. Interpret this result.

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