10.1.2. Design and Functionality

Try these first

1. 1.

   What shapes can surfaces of a well be?

   Hint

   Think about how water would interact with different surfaces.

2. 2.

   What does hydrostatic pressure depend on?

   Hint

   Consider what happens to pressure as you go deeper underwater.

3. 3.

   What is hydrostatic pressure?

   • Pressure from a moving fluid
   • Pressure from a static fluid
   • Pressure due to atmospheric conditions

   Hint

   Think about your experiences in a swimming pool.

4. 4.

   True or False: Stepwells are only used for collecting water.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider the community aspect of ancient structures.

5. 5.

   Calculate the force exerted on a submerged inclined surface of 3 m height and 2 m width if it’s submerged at an angle such that the height at one end is 2 m and at the other end is 3 m.

   Hint

   Use integration principles to find the average pressure from different heights.

6. 6.

   Describe an engineering failure from inadequate understanding of hydrostatic pressure in well systems.

   Hint

   Consider real-life examples of historic collapses.