Chapter 6, Problem 12P

A cylindrical container of radius r and height L is partially filled with a liquid whose volume is V. If the container is rotated about its axis of symmetry with constant angular speed ω, then the container will induce a rotational motion in the liquid around the same axis. Eventually, the liquid will be rotating at the same angular speed as the container. The surface of the liquid will be convex, as indicated in the figure, because the centrifugal force on the liquid particles increases with the distance from the axis of the container. It can be shown that the surface of the liquid is a paraboloid of revolution generated by rotating the parabola

$y=h+\frac{{\omega }^2{x}^2}{2g}$

about the y-axis, where g is the acceleration due to gravity.

(a) Determine h as a function of ω.

(b) At what angular speed will the surface of the liquid touch the bottom? At what speed will it spill over the top?

(c) Suppose the radius of the container is 2 ft, the height is 7 ft, and the container and liquid are rotating at the same constant angular speed. The surface of the liquid is 5 ft below the top of the tank at the central axis and 4 ft below the top of the tank 1 ft out from the central axis.

(i) Determine the angular speed of the container and the volume of the fluid.

(ii) How far below the top of the tank is the liquid at the wall of the container?

FIGURE FOR PROBLEM 12