EXP.

4:
IMPACT OF JET

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to calculate the force produced by a jet of water as it
impact different kind of surfaces.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This equipment is designed to produce and measure force due to impact of water jet
on a target. This is the basic principle of Pelton Turbine. Details of the equipment are as
Figure 1.
1. Water from a Hydraulics Bench is connected to an inlet pipe at the bottom of a
clear acrylic tank diameter 200 mm such that water jet and its impact or target
plate can be easily seen.
2. Water is discharged vertically through a nozzle diameter 7 mm.
3. Three target plates each diameter 36 mm is provided: Plate, 120 cone and
hemisphere.
4. The target plate is connected to a vertical stem with spring near which an stem
level indicator is provided. This indicator is set when there is no jet and also no
weight on the stem.
5. Selected weights are then placed on the stem and at te same time flow rate of
water jet is adjusted to hit the target plate raising it to its original level. Weights
provided are 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 gram.
6. Flow rate of the water jet can be obtained from the Hydraulics Bench measuring
tank.

THEORY
When a water jet of velocity V hits a target plate, its velocity will change direction to V o as in
Figure 2.
Assume the jet flow rate is W kg/sec along the X (vertical axis) with V m/sec. After striking
the target the jet velocity becomes Vo m/sec and it direction deviate from the original
direction by angle .
Momentum of jet before hitting the target plate

= WV kg.m/sec2

Momentum of the jet after hitting the target plate

= WVo COS kg.m/sec2

This impact force

= change in momentum
= WVo COS - WV kg.m/sec2 = Newton

Reaction F by the target plate

F = WVo Newton

N = kg.m/s2

Reaction F for various target are

F on flat target, = 90 degree, COS = 0
Thus FF = WV Newton
F on 120 cone target, = 120 degree, COS = -0.5

Assume very little energy loss between nozzle and target

V = V0
Thus

FC = WV [ 1 (-0.5)]

F on hemisphere

= 1.5 WV0

= 180 degree, COS = -1

Thus FH = WV [ 1- (-1)]
FH = 2WV0 or 2 times that of flat target.
EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS
1. Pelton Turbine
2. A set of weights
3. Stopwatch

PROCEDURE
1. The equipment was adjusted to an approximate level so that the jet is vertical.
2. The required target plate was installed and the stem level indicator was adjusted to a
fixed point on the stem.
3. 200 gram weight was put on the stem; the stem will thus lower it-self.
4. Hydraulics Bench valve was opened to allow the jet to hit the target and the flow was
adjusted until the stem rises to its original level.
5. Volume and time on measuring tank was recorded.
6. Step 3 to 6 was repeated with increased weights.

7. Step 6 was repeated to other types of target plates. The plates are designed such that

Weight
(kg)
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45
0.50
0.55
0.60
0.65
0.70
0.75
0.79
0.83

Water
Volume
L
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

Time
(sec)

Mass
Flow
Rate
(W)
(kg/sec)

Exit Jet
Velocity
(V)
(m/sec)

Velocity
Deflected
by vane
V0 (m/sec)

Momentum
WV0 (N)

Impact
Force
(N)

12.44
10.90
9.81
8.88
8.00
7.50
6.82
6.97
6.18
6.53
5.94
5.72
5.78
5.40

0.322
0.367
0.408
0.450
0.500
0.533
0.587
0.574
0.647
0.613
0.673
0.699
0.692
0.741

8.368
9.537
10.603
11.694
12.994
13.851
15.255
14.917
16.814
15.930
17.490
18.165
17.983
19.257

8.333
9.506
10.575
11.669
12.971
13.830
15.236
14.897
16.796
15.912
17.473
18.149
17.967
19.242

2.683
3.489
4.3146
5.251
6.486
7.371
8.944
8.551
10.867
9.754
11.759
12.686
12.433
14.258

2.694
3.500
4.326
5.262
6.497
7.383
8.955
8.562
10.879
9.765
11.771
12.697
12.444
14.2694

heights above nozzle are the same for all targets.

8. The graph Impact force on vane, F (N) versus Rate of delivery of momentum, WVo
(N) was plotted for different types of target plates.
9. Comments on the result obtained.

Target Type: FLAT PLATE

Weight
(kg)
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
0.40
0.45
0.50
0.55
0.60
0.65
0.70
0.75
0.79
0.83

Water
Volume
L
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

Time
(sec)

Mass
Flow
Rate
(W)
(kg/sec)

Exit Jet
Velocity
(V)
(m/sec)

Velocity
Deflected
by vane
V0
(m/sec)

Momentum
WV0 (N)

Impact
Force
(N)

23.06
19.37
15.29
14
12.62
12.72
11.6
11.19
10.31
9.69
9.34
9.4
9.35
9.21

0.173
0.207
0.263
0.286
0.317
0.314
0.345
0.357
0.388
0.413
0.428
0.426
0.428
0.434

4.496
5.379
6.835
7.432
8.238
8.16
8.966
9.278
10.083
10.733
11.123
11.071
11.123
11.279

4.430
5.324
6.792
7.392
8.202
8.124
8.933
9.246
10.054
10.706
11.097
11.044
11.097
11.253

0.76639
1.10207
1.7863
2.11411
2.60003
2.55094
3.08189
3.30082
3.90095
4.42158
4.74952
4.70474
4.74952
4.8838

0.777808
1.113453
1.797605
2.125552
2.611446
2.56224
3.09327
3.312246
3.912204
4.432729
4.760644
4.716246
4.760644
4.895086

Impact Forces vs. Rate of Delivery of Momentum for Flat Plate

16
14

f(x) = 1x + 0.01

12
10

Impact Forces(N)

8
6
4
2
0

10

12

Rate of Delivery of Momentum(N)

Impact

Target Type: CONE

Linear (Impact )

14

16

Impact Forces vs. Rate of Delivery of Momentum for Cone

6
5
f(x) = 1x + 0.01
4

Impact Force (N)

3
2
1
0
0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

5.5

Rate Of Delivery of Momentum(N)

Target Type: Hemisphere

Weight
(kg)

Water
Volume

Time
(sec)

Mass Flow
Rate (W)
(kg/sec)

Exit Jet
Velocity
(V) (m/sec)

Velocity
Deflected
by vane
V0
(m/sec)

Momentum
WV0 (N)

5.71154417

5.6598

1.24391

7.13943022

7.0981

1.95003

7.71715694

7.67893

2.28031

8.48572277

8.45097

2.7595

8.31600832

8.2805

2.64976

1.25528
4
1.96138
2
2.29165
8
2.77084
8
2.661123

9.4243068

9.3927

3.40624

3.4177

9.98560076

9.9561

3.82559

10.9421162

10.9151

4.59583

L
0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35
0.40

4
4

0.45

0.50
0.55

4
4

18.2
14.56
13.47
12.25
12.5
11.03
10.41
9.5

0.2197802
2
0.2747252
7
0.2969562
0.3265306
1
0.32
0.3626473
3
0.3842459
2
0.4210526

Impact Force
(N)

3.83692
6
4.60720

0.60

0.65

0.70

0.75

0.79
0.83

4
4

9.38
8.59
8.56
8.03
8.13
7.28

3
0.4264392
3
0.4656577
4
0.4672897
2
0.498132
0.4920049
2
0.5494505
5

7
4.72584
2
5.63506
1
5.67462
8
6.44842
8

11.0821006

11.0555

4.7145

12.1012927

12.0768

5.62366

12.1437037

12.119

5.66308

12.9452184

12.9224

6.43706

12.7859906

12.763

6.27946

6.29077

14.2788604

14.258

7.83407

7.84552
8

Impact Force vs. Rate of Delivery of Momentum for Hemisphere

9
8
f(x) = 1x - 0.01

7
6
5

Impact Force (N) 4

3
2
1
0

Rate Of Delivery of Momentum

Impact

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Examples of Calculation:
a) Flat Plate.
Mass flow rate, W

= Mass of water
Time
4 kg
= 12.44 sec
= 0.322 kg/sec

Linear (Impact)

Exit jet velocity (V)

W
A0
=
0.3222
1000 x (38.48 x 10-6)
= 8.368 m/sec

Velocity Deflected by vane, V0

= (V2 0.5886 )
= (8.368 2 0.5886 )
= 8.333 m/sec

Momentum, WV0 (N)

= 0.322x 8.333
= 2.683 N

Impact force (N)

= WV Newton
= 0.322 x 8.368
= 2.694 N

b) Cone.
Mass flow rate, W

= Mass of water
Time
4 kg
= 23.06 sec
= 0.173 kg/sec

Exit jet velocity (V)

W
A0
=
0.173
1000 x (38.48 x 10-6)
= 4.496 m/sec

Velocity Deflected by vane, V0

= (V2 0.5886 )
= (4.4962 0.5886 )
= 4.430 m/sec

Momentum, WV0 (N)

= 0.173 x 4.430
= 0.76639 N

Impact force (N)

= WV Newton
= 0.173 x 4.496
= 0.777808 N

c) Hemisphere
Mass flow rate, W

= Mass of water
Time
4 kg
= 18.2 sec
= 0.21978022 kg/sec

Exit jet velocity (V)

W
A0
=
0.21978022
1000 x (38.48 x 10-6)
= 5.711544417 m/sec

Velocity Deflected by vane, V0

= (V2 0.5886 )
= (5.7115444172 0.5886 )
= 5.6598 m/sec

Momentum, WV0 (N)

= 0. 0.21978022 x 5.6598
= 1.24391 N

Impact force (N)

= WV Newton
= 0.21978022 x 5.711544417
= 1.255284 N

Discussion
In this experiment, we are required to produce and measure the force due to the
impact of water jet on a target and there are three targets which is flat plate type, cone type
and hemisphere type are used in this experiment. From this experiment we found that the
mass flow rate is directly proportional to the weight applied on the spring. This is because
when the weight applied is heavier, the spring will be more compressed and lowered then the
original level, a water jet of larger flow rate was then needed to hit the target and adjust the
stem to its original level. So, mass flow rate increases when the weight applied increases.
Besides, the exit velocity deflected by vane will also increases with increasing mass flow
rate. Momentum deflected by vane will then be increases and cause the impact force to be
increasing. Therefore, in general, the impact of force is increase with the delivery of
momentum.
In this experiment, there were errors and mistakes when we conduct the experiment
and these errors will cause the results we get not so accurate. There are a few errors that we
might have done including:

Parallax error such as our eye is not perpendicular to the water surface in the measuring

tank when we take the reading.

The other parallax error is that our eye is not perpendicular to the weight and pointer.
Besides, when we stop the stop watch after the water reach 5L, we may be not so
accurate to stop the watch in time as average human reaction time is around 0.02

seconds. This will also cause the inaccurate results.

When we adjust the water supply, we couldnt accurately provide the water to reach the

correct state as the hand forces provide to turn the water supply is different every time.
The timer maybe have a lagging time response.
To improve this experiment, there few ways to do:

Make sure the water surface reach the number before stopping the stop watch.
Make sure the pointer is parallel to the weight before taking the reading.
Parallax must be avoided during the experiment.
Try a best way to adjust the water supply.
Conduct every experiment twice and take the average from the reading.
In conclusion, this experiment was considered successfully done as the force due to

the impact of water jet on a target was measured by applying the principals of Pelton Turbine.

However, the results we get in this experiment are still reasonable but still can be improved if
all the errors were minimized throughout the experiment.

Conclusion
The objective of this experiment is to calculate the force produced by a jet of water as it
impact different kind of surfaces. Every different kind of surface gives different value of
forces. There are 3 types of surface that we use, that is:
1) A Flat plate(90)
2) A Cone

(120)

3) A Hemisphere

(180)

We can obtain the reading when the water that is discharged hits any of the given plate. By
obtaining this assessment future calculation can be completed, such as the mass flow rate,
(W) the exit jet velocity, (V) the velocity deflected by the vane, (V o), and also momentum and
the impact force, (F).
As the conclusion, we can see that the water pressure needed for carrying a particular
weight highly depends on the impact surface. This impact surface has the role of conducting
energy from the discharging water to the plate of calibration weights. When the target plate is
flat, it only absorbs a portion of the energy of the discharging water. But a hemisphere and a
cone, absorb bigger portions. By comparing the pressure applied by the water to each of the
plates, we could see that the different target plates absorb and conduct different amount of
energy to the plate of calibration weights, for the same amount of calibration weights.
Therefore, for the same amount of calibration weights, the cone requires the least water
pressure to balance the wrights plate. The cone is followed by the hemisphere and the flat
target plate sat and last as it requires the highest water pressure among these three. Overall,
from this experiment, we could conclude that with using the most optimized shape for the
target plate, we can maximize the efficiency of any engine which operates based on the
theory of Jet Flow.