Pressure of 11,000m Water Column: Crushing or Equal to Bottom of Ocean?

In summary, the conversation discusses a thought experiment involving a cylinder filled with water and the effects of water pressure at varying depths. The pressure at the bottom of the cylinder is the same as the bottom of the ocean, and the difference in pressure between the ocean surface and the 11,000 meter deep bottom is 4769 psi. The conversation also touches on the density of sea water and the pressure difference at sea level.
  • #1
Gondur
25
0
Suppose a cylinder was made. It is the same height as the deepest part of the ocean to the ocean surface - about 11,000 metres and about 1 metre wide.

The cylinder was filled with water right to the top and stood on the Earth's surface.

A small hole at the bottom of the cyclinder was opened and you jumped inside.

Would you get crushed by the water pressure of the weight of the column of water?

Would it be the same as being at the bottom of the ocean?
 
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  • #2
Gondur said:
Would you get crushed by the water pressure of the weight of the column of water?

Would it be the same as being at the bottom of the ocean?

If we disregard the cylinder bursting, and disregard how you get in and out, yes to both.
 
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  • #3
Nice thought experiment. Do you have any formulas we can use ? What is the pressure difference between the ocean surface and the 11000 m deep bottom ?
 
  • #4
My uncle is very fat. He needs a 3m wide cylinder. Would that make a difference ?
 
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  • #5
BvU said:
Nice thought experiment. Do you have any formulas we can use ? What is the pressure difference between the ocean surface and the 11000 m deep bottom ?

It doesn't matter if the water is in the ocean or the cylinder. 11,000 feet of head creates 4769 psi of pressure.
 
  • #6
Now that we have fun, @Gondur: can you reproduce this pressure ? I get a different result. Lots (well...) of big and small differences.
 
  • #7
Water column is 11000 m, not 11000 feet -- factor 3 worse
Density of sea water is around 1020 kg/m3 -- offsets the 9.81
Pressure at sea level is higher than at 11000 m height -- so the sea bottom is worse

Don't want readers to get the wrong idea.. :rolleyes:

All in good spirit.
 
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  • #8
BvU said:
Water column is 11000 m, not 11000 feet -- factor 3 worse

Whoops, thanks for correcting me 11000m of head is 1078 bars of pressure, or 15642 psi.

BvU said:
Pressure at sea level is higher than at 11000 m height -- so the sea bottom is worse

Do you mean the 1 bar atmospheric pressure at sea level? Not very significant, and I think it just confuses the OP who was just wondering about the equivalence of open bodies of water compared to cylinders.
 

1. What is the pressure at the bottom of the ocean at 11,000 meters?

The pressure at the bottom of the ocean at 11,000 meters is approximately 1,100 times greater than the surface pressure. This means that the pressure is equivalent to the weight of 11,000 meters of water pressing down on an object.

2. Is the pressure at 11,000 meters of water column considered crushing?

Yes, the pressure at 11,000 meters of water column is considered crushing. This is because the weight of the water above exerts a significant force on any object at that depth, making it difficult for most objects to withstand it.

3. How does the pressure at 11,000 meters of water column compare to other depths?

The pressure at 11,000 meters of water column is equivalent to the pressure at the bottom of the ocean, which is the deepest part of the ocean. It is significantly higher than the pressure at shallower depths, such as at the surface or even at 1,000 meters.

4. Can anything survive at 11,000 meters of water column?

There are some living organisms that have been found to survive at 11,000 meters of water column, such as certain types of deep-sea fish and invertebrates. However, these organisms have adaptations that allow them to withstand the intense pressure.

5. How is the pressure at 11,000 meters of water column measured?

The pressure at 11,000 meters of water column is typically measured using a device called a depth gauge. This instrument measures the pressure exerted by the water column above it and displays it in units of pressure, such as pounds per square inch (psi) or atmospheres (atm).

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