Hydraulics (9049) Experiment No.

EXPERIMENT No. 1
1.0 Title:
To measure pressure and pressure head by using piezometer and U-tube manometer .
2.0 Prior Concepts :
Pascal’s Law, Properties of fluid like mass density, weight density, specific gravity of liquid.
3.0 New Concepts :
Proposition 1 : Pressure intensity(pressure)
It is force acting per unit area .It’s unit is N/mm2 .This term is used for fluid.
Concept Structure:

Pressure intensity
is

Force to area
Proposition 2 : Pressure measuring devices
Pressure is measured either by using manometer or gauges .These are the devices used in
measurement of pressure. They are manometer and gauges.
Concept Structure:
Pressure measuring devices

Manometer Gauges
1. Piezometer 1. Bourdon tube pressure gauge
2. Simple U-tube 2. Diaphragm pressure gauge
3. Differential U-tube 3. Vaccume pressure gauge
4. Single Column
5. Inverted U-tube differential
4.0 Learning Objectives:
Interllectual Skills:
1.To understand concept of pressure head or intensity.
2.To understand the conversion of given measured pressure in meter of water and
in N/m2.
3.To understand significance of density difference.
4.To understand working of manomter.
Motor skills:
1.Ability to observe and record the reading of water level of two limbs of manometer.
2.Ablity to observe and record the reading of pressure gauge.
3.Ability to remove air from leg or limb of manonameter.
4.Ability to convert the observed measured pressure in meter of water or in N/m2 .
5.0 Apparatus:
Piezometer tube
Simple U-tube manometer with mercury filled.

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Hydraulics (9049) Experiment No. 1

6.0 DIAGRAM:

Fig 1.2

Piezometer:
It is the simplest form of manometer which can be used for measuring moderate pressure of liquids. It
consists of glass tube inserted in the valve of vessel or pipe containing liquid whose pressure is to be
measured. The tube extends vertically upwards to such a height that liquid can freely rise in it without
overflowing.
The pressure at any point in the liquid is indicated by the height of the liquid in the tube obve that point
which can be read on the scale attached to it.Piezometer measure gauge pressure only. If w is
specific weight of liquid, the pressure at a point A is given by p (gauge) = wh.
U-tube Manometer :
It consists of glass tube bend in U shape, one end of which is connected to a point at which
pressure is to be measured and other end remains open to the atmosphere. U tube manometer
can measure both positive and negative pressure.

Fig 1.3 Fig 1.4

Pressure measurement by U-tube manometer.

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Hydraulics (9049) Experiment No. 1

Let A be the point at which pressure is to be measured. X-X is the datum line as shown in fig. 1.3
Let h1=height of liquid in left limb above the datum line.
h2= height of heavy liquid above the datum line.
h= pressure in pipe expressed in terms of head.
S1= Specific gravity of light liquid.
S2= Specific gravity of heavy liquid.
The pressure in the left limb and right limb above datum line X——X are equal.
Pressure head above datum line X——X in left limb =h+h1S1….(1)
Pressure head above datum line X——X in right limb=h2S2…..(2)
Equating (1) and (2)
h+h1S1=h2S2
h= h2S2- h1S1
p= wh.( Gauge pressure)
For negative pressure
Pressure head above datum line X——X in left limb =h+h1S1 + h2S2….(1)
Pressure head above datum line X——X in right limb=0…..(2)
Equating (1) and (2)
h= -( h1S1+h2S2)
p= wh
7.0 Step wise Procedure:
1. For piezometer:
1.Start fluid flow in pipe.
2.Observe the glass tube connected to pipe through which liquid is flowing.
3.Note the height of water in glass tube by scale attached to it.
4.Calculate p= wh.
2. For U-tube Manometer:
1.Start the fluid flow in pipe.
2.Observe the manometer connected to pipe through which the liquid is flowing.
3.Note height in left and right limbs with help of scale.
4.Note the absolute difference.
5.Calculate head in meter of water, meter of liquid and in N/m2 .
6.Repeat the procedure for different flowrate.
8.0 Observations:
Specific gravity of liquid flowing in pipe S1 =…
Specific gravity of manometric liquid S2=…..

Sr. Type of manometer Manometric reading Formula Pressure

No. h1 h2 h=h2-h1

1 Piezometer

2 U-tube Manometer

9.0 Sample Calculations :

1.For piezometer p = wh =…………..
2. For U-tube manometer h = h2S2- h1S1=……………… for positive pressure.
p = wh =…………………..
3. For U-tube manometer h = h1S1+ h2S2……………….for Negative pressure.
p = wh =…………………
10.0 Results:
Pressure head by piezometer tube =………………..
Pressure head by U-tube manometer=………………..

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Hydraulics (9049) Experiment No. 1

11.0 Conclusion:
1.Piezometer tube is useful for …………………….(positive /negative/ atmospheric) pressure.
2.Teacher shall guide the student to write the conclusion keeping in view skills acquired and results
obtained.)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
12.0 Questions :
Write answers to Q…..Q…..Q…..Q…. ( Teacher shall allot the questions)
1.What is piezometer?
2.What are the limitations of piezometer?
3.Why mercury is used in manometer?
4.Define pressure and pressure head.
5.State requirements of liquid to be used as manometric liquid.
6.What are manometers?
7.What is gauge pressure?
8.What is absolute pressure?
9.What shall be the gauge pressure at mountain peak?
10.Whether the gauge pressure at 500m below sea level will be same as gauge pressure at ground
level? Give reason.

(Space for Answers.)

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Hydraulics (9049) Experiment No. 1

(Space for Answers.)

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