Serway & Jewett — Fluid Mechanics: Problem 40

With reference to the dam studied in Example 14.4 and shown in Figure 14.5, (a) show that the total torque exerted by the water behind the dam about a horizontal axis through \(O\) is \(\frac{1}{6} \rho g w H^3\). (b) Show that the effective line of action of the total force exerted by the water is at a distance \(\frac{1}{3}H\) above \(O\).