Question

The wall of the dam has height $h$ and it is assumed that it is completely filled with water then the centre of pressure,

• A. is below the height of $\frac{h}{2}$.
• B. is at the height of $\frac{h}{2}$.
• C. is above the height of $\frac{h}{2}$.
• D. nothing can be said necessarily about it

Answer 1

The correct option is A is below the height of $\frac{h}{2}$.

Variation of pressure with depth is given by $P=\rho gh$ (Atmospheric pressure is neglected)

As pressure exerted by water increase linearly with depth, so pressure has more magnitude below height $h/2$ than above height $h/2$.

So center of pressure is below height of $h/2$.