The movement of water inside a partially filled tank that can cause the apparatus to skid or overturn is called?

• A. Liquid Surge
• B. Water Hammer
• C. Cavitation
• D. Surge Wave

Answer: (A)

Liquid surge is the inertia-driven movement of water inside a partially filled tank as the vehicle accelerates, brakes, or turns. The liquid resists changes in motion, so it sloshes and shifts toward the end of the tank, changing the center of gravity and creating dynamic forces on the chassis. This can reduce stability, causing the apparatus to skid or even overturn, especially when the tank isn’t full enough to dampen the wave or when rapid maneuvers are performed. Water hammer involves a pressure surge in piping from rapid flow changes, cavitation is the formation of vapor bubbles under low pressure, and surge wave generally refers to a propagating pressure wave in a line—not the internal liquid movement within a partially filled tank that disrupts stability.