Air pressure stays the same or increase?

AI Thread Summary
When water is added to a sealed barrel, the air at the top gets compressed, increasing the pressure above atmospheric levels. The pressure will rise until it equals the water pressure from the hose, which is typically lower than theoretical maximums. Although some believe air may dissolve in water, it is noted that air is not very soluble, meaning most of it remains in the gas phase. The discussion concludes that as water fills the barrel, the air's volume decreases, leading to an inevitable increase in pressure. A suggestion is made to use an air pressure gauge to measure the changes directly.
Althepump
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the barrel has a lid at the top...sealed. I make a hole at the bottom to attach water hose to it. Then I turn on the water hose. The water volume in the barrel increases, no doubt about that. When It takes 7/8 of the barrel. Will the air in the top 1/8 of the barrel be compressed? I ask because the air has no way out. It has to be somewhere in the barrel.

Needless to say that the barrel is empty but air to begin with.
 
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Yes, of course it will. And its pressure will be much above the atmospheric. But that's in theory, because tap water is rarely available at pressures that high...
 
NTW said:
Yes, of course it will. And its pressure will be much above the atmospheric. But that's in theory, because tap water is rarely available at pressures that high...

I think I understand. Since you say tap water is rarely available at high pressure, therefore water level in the barrel will go as far as the air pressure in the top of the barrel is equal to the tap water pressure. Then it stops. Maybe the barrel can only go as far as half.
 
Hi
welcome to PF :)

what do you think would happen ?

if you think it would stay the same ... give a reason for that thought
likewise, if you think it would increase ... give a reason
and we will see how you do

cheers
Dave
 
davenn said:
Hi
welcome to PF :)

what do you think would happen ?

if you think it would stay the same ... give a reason for that thought
likewise, if you think it would increase ... give a reason
and we will see how you do

cheers
Dave

I was not sure... I thought air molecules may seep into water as water level increases like air bubbles in water. In other words, dissolve in water. If it does happen, then air pressure will be about the same. But I got reply earlier that pressure does increase in theory. It confirms my hunch.
 
Last edited:
Althepump said:
I was not sure... I thought air molecules may seep into water as water level increases like air bubbles in water. In other words, dissolve in water. If it does happen, then air pressure will be about the same. But I got reply earlier that pressure does increase in theory. It confirms my hunch.
Air is not very soluble in water. Only a tiny fraction would dissolve.

Chet
 
Chestermiller said:
Air is not very soluble in water. Only a tiny fraction would dissolve.

Chet

Thanks for the confirmation. I thought so.
 
there you go :)

when you just think about it simply ... you are squeezing the air into a smaller and smaller volume inside the
container. It can do nothing but increase in pressure

cheers
Dave
 
Ok. By now I may go a step further by putting an air pressure gauge into the top barrel to get readings. I believe I can simply plug it in provided sealed.
 
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