At what level will the water settle in this system?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of water levels in a system of interconnected tanks, specifically focusing on the height at which water will settle above a spillway. Participants explore concepts related to hydrostatic pressure, the implications of tank heights, and the potential for perpetual motion machines (PMMs) within the context of the system.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the water will settle about 10 meters above the spillway, referencing the height of a water-filled barometer.
  • There is a suggestion that all tanks will drain to the same elevation, which would leave one tank full while others drain.
  • Participants express uncertainty regarding the heights of the other tanks, with one noting a faint green grid that indicates measurements.
  • Some participants discuss the implications of drawing a horizontal line at 10 meters above the spillway to visualize water levels.
  • One participant argues that molecular weights and volumes are irrelevant to the hydrostatic pressure, emphasizing that pressure is a function of height alone.
  • There is a claim that the system resembles a potential PMM, with discussions about the complexity and flaws inherent in such designs.
  • Concerns are raised about evaporation and condensation processes affecting water levels, particularly in relation to the presence of heavy oil.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relevance of certain factors (like molecular weight) and the nature of the system (whether it can be considered a PMM). The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on the implications of the water levels and the design of the system.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the absence of specific information regarding tank heights and the potential effects of evaporation and condensation, which may influence the water levels in the system.

mcmpw
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
TL;DR
starting with all tanks and lines full with water, what level(s) water settle in this system?

each grid is 2 meters.......catch tank is 6 meters deep with open spillway..........inlet from line to "tank a" line is 12 meters above water level in catch tank. blue arrows indicate check valves and flow direction.......pink lines represent sluice valves.......... edit and submit photo representing water levels
asd.jpg
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The answer has not changed.
The water will settle about 10 metres above the spillway of the catch tank. That is the height of a water-filled barometer, a column of water supported by atmospheric pressure with a near vacuum of water vapour above.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: russ_watters and berkeman
Baluncore said:
The answer has not changed.
The water will settle about 10 metres above the spillway of the catch tank. That is the height of a water-filled barometer, a column of water supported by atmospheric pressure with a near vacuum of water vapour above.
all other tanks will drain to the same elevation which will complete drain tanks b and c, while leaving tank d full?
 
mcmpw said:
all other tanks will drain to the same elevation which will complete drain tanks b and c, while leaving tank d full?
That may be the case. I see no information on the heights of the other tanks.
 
Baluncore said:
I see no information on the heights of the other tanks.
There is a faint green grid, which looks to be 2 meters per square...
 
yes each square is 2 meters
 
mcmpw said:
yes each square is 2 meters
I see no squares on my monitor.
That makes it your problem.
 
Baluncore said:
I see no squares on my monitor.
I darkened the background grid a bit...

water tanks.jpg
 
Draw a horizontal line 10 m above the spillway and you have your answer.
 
  • #10
Baluncore said:
Draw a horizontal line 10 m above the spillway and you have your answer.
Note that this is below the highest junction. So do you not get a 10m high column above the spillway in the left hand vertical and a 10m column in the right hand sloped pipes?
 
  • #11
Baluncore said:
Draw a horizontal line 10 m above the spillway and you have your answer.
consindering volumes, molecular weights and tank a pipe junction is approximately 14 meters above catch tank water level?
 
  • #12
mcmpw said:
consindering volumes, molecular weights ...
They are irrelevant in this case. Water is still water, and hydrostatic pressure is a simple function of height, not of volume.
mcmpw said:
...and tank a pipe junction is approximately 14 meters above catch tank water level
That makes a slow siphon. After the initial flow, water will evaporate on the high side and condense lower down on the other side. It will take time, but an equilibrium will be reached.

The circuit was clearly designed originally as a potential PMM. As fascinating as you may find it, every PMM must evolve complexity, sufficient to baffle its designer and aficionados. The beauty of engineering and physics is that we can identify and reject the analysis of PMMs.

In a nutshell, it is a useless mechanism, that I do not consider worthy of deeper analysis.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman, Bystander, Motore and 2 others
  • #13
Baluncore said:
The circuit was clearly designed originally as a potential PMM. As fascinating as you may find it, every PMM must evolve complexity, sufficient to baffle its designer and aficionados. The beauty of engineering and physics is that we can identify and reject the analysis of PMMs.

In a nutshell, it is a useless mechanism, that I do not consider worthy of deeper analysis.
I agree, though the way I'd say it is:
  • Most perpetual motion machines are just complicated enough that the designer can't identify the flaw.
  • Engineers/scientists can easily identify the natural law violation, so they don't need to bother unraveling the complexity of the machine to identify its flaw (if they don't want to). As you said, not worthy of deeper analysis.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman, Bystander, Vanadium 50 and 2 others
  • #14
Baluncore said:
water will evaporate on the high side and condense lower down on the other side. It will take time, but an equilibrium will be reached
prior natural evaporating and condensing, where water stands in each tank and line?.........and with heavy oil covering, water evaporate or no?

[Mentor Note -- post edited to remove a mild insult]
 
  • Sad
Likes   Reactions: weirdoguy
  • #15
Baluncore said:
The circuit was clearly designed originally as a potential PMM. As fascinating as you may find it, every PMM must evolve complexity, sufficient to baffle its designer and aficionados. The beauty of engineering and physics is that we can identify and reject the analysis of PMMs.

In a nutshell, it is a useless mechanism, that I do not consider worthy of deeper analysis.
Agreed; this thread is done now. @mcmpw -- please do not post again about this here at PF. Thank you.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Bystander and phinds

Similar threads

  • · Replies 73 ·
3
Replies
73
Views
3K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
939
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
732
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K