Calculate the work to pump water out of tank

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the work required to pump half the water out of a tank, specifically an aquarium measuring 2 m long, 1 m wide, and 1 m deep. The density of water is given as 1000 kg/m³, and the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s². The user attempted to solve the problem by integrating the force times distance (F*D) using the formula F = p*g*volume and integrating with respect to x, but arrived at an incorrect result of 4900 J instead of the correct 2450 J.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, specifically work and force.
  • Knowledge of calculus, particularly integration techniques.
  • Familiarity with the properties of water, including density and gravitational effects.
  • Ability to interpret and manipulate mathematical formulas related to volume and force.
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the principles of work and energy in physics.
  • Study integration techniques in calculus, focusing on applications in physics problems.
  • Learn how to calculate the volume of irregular shapes and apply it to fluid mechanics.
  • Explore common mistakes in physics calculations and how to avoid them.
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching fluid mechanics, and anyone interested in solving real-world problems involving work and energy calculations.

bfpri
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
An aquarium 2 m long, 1 m wide, and 1 m deep is full of water. Find the work needed
to pump half the water out of the aquarium. (The density of water, p, is 1000 kg/m3,
and acceleration due to gravity, g, is 9.8 m/s2.)

So in order to truly understand how to do these kind of problems I decided to find different ways to solve this problem. Since you can integrate with respect to dx or dy, for dx i was wondering if you could integrate with respect to the 2m side like so

*edit..ugh its not letting me post the pictures so i'll just give the link...http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2024/boxid.gif

In order to get the answer i integrated F*D. F=p*g*volume=pg(1); D=1-x

integral((1-x)(1)pgdx) from x=0 to x=1. But when i do, i get the wrong answer, 4900 J. The answer should be 2450 J =/
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
bump.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
705
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
713