Exam Question
A ballast tank is 15 m long, 12 m wide and 1.4 m deep and is filled with fresh water. Calculate the load on the top and short side, if: (16)
(a) the tank is just completely full
(b) there is a head of 7m of water above the tank top.
Class 4 (4th Engineer)
SC&S
📅 Dec 2025
Reference Answer
### **Fundamental Principles of Hydrostatic Loading**
To determine the load on the surfaces of a ballast tank, we must apply the principles of fluid statics. The load, or force, exerted by a fluid on a submerged surface is a function of the fluid's density, the acceleration due to gravity, the area of the surface, and the pressure acting upon it.
1. **Hydrostatic Pressure:** The pressure at any point within a fluid at rest is given by the formula:
$$ P = \rho \times g \times h $$
To determine the load on the surfaces of a ballast tank, we must apply the principles of fluid statics. The load, or force, exerted by a fluid on a submerged surface is a function of the fluid's density, the acceleration due to gravity, the area of the surface, and the pressure acting upon it.
1. **Hydrostatic Pressure:** The pressure at any point within a fluid at rest is given by the formula:
$$ P = \rho \times g \times h $$
Full answer on MeoMock — surveyor-grade reference answers for 7,000+ written exam questions.
Prepare on Android — MeoMock on Google Play