Which letter point shows the highest point of pressure in this conjoined container?

brainst0rm

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

In this conjoined container, water is filled up to the top at all three openings. Which letter point shows the highest point of pressure in this conjoined container?


````/~\``````````|~~~|`````\~~~~~~~/
``` /~~\`````````|~~~|``````\~~~~~~/
```/~~~\````````|~~~|```````\~~~~~/
``/~~~~\````````|~~~|```````\~C~~/
`/~~`A~~\_______|~B~|________\~~/
/_____________C__________________/


Key: ~ represents water
` ignore, represents space (used to post on forum)



2. Relevant equations

Pascal’s law, Pressure = Force/Area


3. The attempt at a solution

I think point C has the highest pressure point because two forces act on it from left to right and right to left. However, the pressure equilibrium comes to play and I am unsure which point displays the highest point of pressure. My second guess would be point C due to the higher force pushing downwards. What is the right answer? Thanks.

tiny-tim

hi brainst0rm! welcome to pf!

i'm confused …

why are there two Cs in the diagram?

brainst0rm

Oops. I revised the data points with one point C and one point D.

Which letter point shows the highest point of pressure in this conjoined container?
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

In this conjoined container, water is filled up to the top at all three openings. Which letter point shows the highest point of pressure in this conjoined container?


````/~\``````````|~~~|`````\~~~~~~~/
``` /~~\`````````|~~~|``````\~~~~~~/
```/~~~\````````|~~~|```````\~~~~~/
``/~~~~\````````|~~~|```````\~C~~/
`/~~`A~~\_______|~B~|________\~~'/
/_____________D__________________/


Key: ~ represents water
` ignore, represents space (used to post on forum)



2. Relevant equations

Pascal’s law, Pressure = Force/Area


3. The attempt at a solution

I think point D has the highest pressure point because two forces act on it from left to right and right to left. However, the pressure equilibrium comes to play and I am unsure which point displays the highest point of pressure. My second guess would be point C due to the higher force pushing downwards. What is the right answer? Thanks.

tiny-tim

right, but for the wrong reason

(i don't even understand the reason…

pressure acts left right and all around everywhere )

the pressure in a liquid is ρgh (+ atmospheric pressure) …

are you not familiar with that formula?

brainst0rm

Oh yes, P = pgh. How about this?

P = pgh, or Pressure = (Density) x (gravity due to acceleration) x (height). Because all points share the same density and gravity due to acceleration, the highest pressure point would be the point with the largest height, which is Point D.

tiny-tim

hi brainst0rm!
yes, that's right …

the shape of the container doesn't matter …

so long as it's open to the atmosphere, the pressure only depends on the depth