Solids and Fluids pressure homework

[Fivetoone215]

Homework Statement

In a sample of seawater taken from an oil spill, an oil layer 4.0 cm thich floats on 55 cm of water. If the density of the oil is 0.75 x 10^3 kg/m^3, what is the absolute pressure on the bottom of the container.

p= 0.75x10^3 kg/m^3
g = 9.8m/s^2
h=.55m
p=?
pa = density of seawater??

Homework Equations

p=pa+ pgh

The Attempt at a Solution

p = pa+ (0.75x10^3 kg/m^3)(9.8m/s^2)(.55m)

4 cm =??

 

[denverdoc]

sg of sea water about 1.025
you need to add all pressures, from p=density*g*h of the two columns plus ambient.

 

[m2003]

I would like to clarify some points in this homework problem. Firstly, the given information does not specify the units for density, so I will assume it is in kg/m^3. Secondly, the units for acceleration due to gravity should be in m/s^2, not kg/m^3. Additionally, the units for the height should be in meters, not centimeters. With these corrections, the correct equation to use would be p = pa + pgh, where p is the absolute pressure at the bottom of the container, pa is the atmospheric pressure, p is the density of the oil, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the water column.

Using this equation, the solution would be:

p = pa + (0.75x10^3 kg/m^3)(9.8m/s^2)(0.55m)

p = pa + 4110 Pa

Since the given information does not specify the atmospheric pressure, we cannot calculate the absolute pressure at the bottom of the container. However, we can say that it would be 4110 Pa higher than the atmospheric pressure. It is important to note that the oil layer does not contribute to the pressure at the bottom of the container, as it is floating on top of the water. The pressure at the bottom is solely determined by the height and density of the water column.