The discussion centers on the mechanics of pressure forces acting on a can when air is either escaping or being sucked in. In the first scenario, high-pressure gas exits the can, resulting in the can accelerating backward due to an unbalanced force on the wall opposite the hole. Conversely, in the second scenario, when air is sucked into the can, the can initially accelerates to the right, as the atmospheric pressure on the wall opposite the hole is not canceled by an opposing force. This highlights the importance of pressure gradient forces in determining the motion of the can.
PREREQUISITESStudents of physics, engineers, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of pressure forces in fluid systems.
Why do you think it does not move ?versine said:
Because I saw the answer lol.Baluncore said:
Are you asking why the first container will accelerate? Imagine the gas exerts the same pressure on all walls. All wall parts have an opposite wall part, and their opposite forces cancel. Except for the piece of wall opposite to the hole, which has no opposite wall part, and thus the force acting on it is not canceled. So the whole container will accelerate to the left.versine said:
The second container will initially accelerate to the right for the same reason. The exterior pressure force on the wall part opposite to the hole is not canceled, because there is no wall opposite to it.versine said: