Correct statement about siphon used to empty water tank

[songoku]

Homework Statement

Siphon is used to empty tank A. For each statement, check whether it is true or false
(i) At maximum height, the pressure is zero
(ii) According to Bernoulli, for siphon to work well, position of B can be higher than A but must lower than position of water surface at tank.
(iii) Pressure A is equal to pressure B to make the siphon work
(iv) Velocity of water is greater at B than at the maximum height of the siphon

Relevant Equations

Bernoulli Equation

Continuity Equation

Hydrostatic Pressure

The answer to this question is statements (i) and (ii) are correct.

(i) I don't understand why this is corect. By "at maximum height", I assume at the highest position of the siphon, but why the pressure is zero?

(ii) I think this is correct because conservation of energy. If B is higher than the water surface, the gravitational potential energy of the water is not enough to push the water through the siphon

(iii) This is wrong because pressure at A is higher than B

(iv) This is wrong because, assuming the siphon has constant area, then by continuity equation the speed at B is the same as speed of water everywhere inside the siphon

Why (i) is correct and are my reasoning for other statements correct?

Thanks

 

[jbriggs444]

(i) I don't understand why this is corect. By "at maximum height", I assume at the highest position of the siphon, but why the pressure is zero?

I dislike this question. It is full of ambiguities.

It appears that by "at maximum height" they mean the maximum height to which the top of the siphon could have been adjusted. At that height the [absolute] pressure in the fluid would be zero. Any higher and the fluid would spontaneously cavitate/boil and the siphon would stop working.

(ii) I think this is correct because conservation of energy. If B is higher than the water surface, the gravitational potential energy of the water is not enough to push the water through the siphon

I agree with your reasoning.

However, I maintain that (ii) is false for a different reason. If B is higher than A then the tank cannot be completely emptied. We were told that the siphon "is used to empty tank A". If the siphon does not empty the tank then it cannot be said to "work well".

If one has practical experience with siphons then a minimum criterion for "works well" is that the fluid velocity in the tube should be greater than the rate at which air bubbles can rise in the fluid. So that any air that would otherwise accumulate at the top of the siphon is swept harmlessly away.

(iii) This is wrong because pressure at A is higher than B

(iv) This is wrong because, assuming the siphon has constant area, then by continuity equation the speed at B is the same as speed of water everywhere inside the siphon

Yes. Agreed on both counts.

 

[Chestermiller]

I dislike this question. It is full of ambiguities.

It appears that by "at maximum height" they mean the maximum height to which the top of the siphon could have been adjusted. At that height the [absolute] pressure in the fluid would be zero. Any higher and the fluid would spontaneously cavitate/boil and the siphon would stop working.

At the maximum hight of the siphon, when cavitation occurs, the absolute pressure is not zero, It is equal to the vapor pressure of the liquid.