Pressure gain from water dropped from a height

In summary, the conversation discusses the pressure inside a steel box when an unlimited source of water is dropped 20 meters into it through a hose. The question is whether the pressure would be the same as being 20 meters under the sea. The conclusion is that the pressure would depend on the amount of water in the container, with the pressure being equal to being 20 meters under the sea in a specific scenario where a water-tank containing 50 square meters of water is suspended 20 meters over a one cubed meter box and connected by an airtight hose.
  • #1
nfneilfrancis
3
0
if an unlimited source of water was dropped twenty meters directly downwards into a meter cubed steel box through a hose, would there be the same psi in the box as there would be twenty meters under the sea?
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF.

The question doesn't make all that much sense - the box is a cube, not a square, right? So what is the depth? 1m?

Anyway...the pressure at the bottom (directly under) of a column of water is equal to the pressure due to the height. This is a manifestation of pressure conversion in Bernoulli's equation: potential energy due to height converted to velocity, then velocity pressure converted to static pressure on impact.

But that means if you pour water from a garden hose into a 1 meter cubed container 20m below, the pressure will not be the same as 20m under the ocean because the garden hose is much smaller than 1 square meter in cross sectional area (and the water column, much smaller than that).
 
  • #3
thanks very much for the help, but it is difficult to describe my question without a diagram... if for example a water-tank containing 50 square meters of water was suspended 20m vertically over a one cubed meter box and they were connected by an airtight hose... would the box have the same psi as there would be 20m under the sea, or would the pressure depend on the water in the water-tank?
 
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  • #4
In your second case, the pressure would be equal to being 20m under the ocean.
 
  • #5
thanks very much!
 

What is pressure gain from water dropped from a height?

Pressure gain from water dropped from a height refers to the increase in pressure that occurs when a column of water is dropped from a certain height and hits a surface or another body of water.

How does the height from which the water is dropped affect the pressure gain?

The higher the height from which the water is dropped, the greater the pressure gain will be. This is because the higher the height, the more potential energy the water has, which is converted to kinetic energy upon impact and leads to a greater pressure build-up.

What factors can affect the pressure gain from water dropped from a height?

The main factors that can affect the pressure gain include the height from which the water is dropped, the volume of water and its velocity upon impact, and the surface or body of water that the water hits.

Can pressure gain from water dropped from a height be dangerous?

Yes, pressure gain from water dropped from a height can be dangerous. The force of the water hitting a surface or body of water can result in a high pressure that can cause damage or injury.

How is pressure gain from water dropped from a height used in real life?

Pressure gain from water dropped from a height is used in various applications, such as in hydraulic systems, water turbines, and water hammers. It is also a key concept in understanding the mechanics of waterfalls and the formation of waves in bodies of water.

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