Question

A rectangular dam is 101 ft long and 54 ft high. If the water is 35 ft deep, find the force of the water on the dam (the density of water is 62.4 lb/ft3).

Answer 1

To solve this problem we will begin by finding the pressure through density and average depth. Later we will find the Force, by means of the relation of the pressure and the area.

$P = \rho h$

Here,

h = Depth average

$\rho$ = Density

Moreover,

$\text{Density of water}= \rho = 62.4lb/ft^3$

Replacing,

$P = (62.4lb/ft^3)(\frac{35}{2}ft)$

$P = 1092 lb/ft^2$

Finally the force

$\text{Force} = \text{Pressure}\times \text{Area of dam with water acting on it}$

$F = 1092lb/ft^2(101ft*52ft)$

$F = 5.735*10^6lbf$