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Total hydrostatic thrust on a vertical wall (per unit length) A vertical wall retains a single liquid of specific weight w up to height H on one side. Find the total pressure (resultant hydrostatic force) on the wall per unit length.

Q: Total hydrostatic thrust on a vertical wall (per unit length) A vertical wall retains a single liquid of specific weight w up to height H on one side. Find the total pressure (resultant hydrostatic force) on the wall per unit length.

Concept/Approach Pressure varies hydrostatically: p = w y at depth y. Resultant thrust per unit width is the area under the triangular pressure diagram. Step-by-step calculation F = ∫0H w y dy = w [y²/2]0H = w H²/2. Final Answer wH2/2

Difficulty: Easy

wH
wH/2
wH2/2
wH2/3

Correct Answer: wH2/2

Explanation:

Concept/Approach
Pressure varies hydrostatically: p = w y at depth y. Resultant thrust per unit width is the area under the triangular pressure diagram.

Step-by-step calculation
F = ∫₀^H w y dy = w [y²/2]₀^H = w H²/2.

Final Answer
wH2/2

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