# Cylinders filled with liquid; placed on a trolley

1. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Two cylinder shaped vessels of cross section A are fixed vertically to a trolley, which was initially at rest. The two vessels are connected with a thin horizontal tube which is equipped with a tap. The distance between the axes of the vessels is L. The vessel in the left hand side is filled with some liquid of density $\rho$; and at this time the total mass of the system at rest is m. After opening the tap what is the speed of the cart at the moment when the speed of the water levels in the vessels is v? (Rolling friction, friction in the bearings and air-drag are negligible.)

(Answer: $vAL\rho /m$)
2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
I think I have to use conservation of linear momentum but I am unsure about how to do that. The motion of fluid in the cylinder confuses me. I need a few hints to get started with.

Thanks!

File size:
18.4 KB
Views:
68
2. Jul 7, 2013

### Simon Bridge

Oh I see, mass transfers from the LHC to the RHC at a rate that depends on the difference in heights - which makes the cart move the other way ... it's like a continuous version of the problem where you sit at one end of a closed box and throw rotten fruit at the other end where they stick.

3. Jul 7, 2013

### voko

The key to the problem, obviously, is finding the momentum of the liquid in the pipe.

4. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

And how should I do that?

5. Jul 7, 2013

### voko

Momentum is mass times velocity. Find these.

6. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

The total mass of the system is m. Initially all the water is in the left cylinder. Mass of liquid is $Ah\rho$ where h is the height of the liquid in the left cylinder initially. But I don't think calculating these would help. Also, how do I use $L$ here?

7. Jul 7, 2013

### voko

Again, you need the momentum in the pipe. It is the mass of the liquid in the pipe multiplied by the velocity of the liquid in the pipe.

What is the mass of the liquid in the pipe?

8. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

I don't have the cross section for the pipe. :(

9. Jul 7, 2013

### voko

Assume you do: call it $a$.

10. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

The length of the pipe is $L-2R$ where R is the radius of cylinder.

The mass of liquid in the pipe is $\rho a(L-2R)$. Momentum is $\rho a(L-2R)v$.

11. Jul 7, 2013

### voko

I believe you are supposed to think that $L$ is much greater than $R$ and ignore the latter. You will have to, anyway, because you do not have enough information to model the behavior of the liquid in the cylinder, and it is not physical to assume it just moves horizontally wall to wall and then goes straight up.

$v$ is the velocity in the cylinders, not in the pipe.

12. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

:tongue:

Using the equation of continuity (?),
$$Av=av' \Rightarrow v'=Av/a$$
Hence momentum is $\rho aLv'=\rho ALv$. From conservation of linear momentum, $\rho ALv=mv_f \Rightarrow v_f=\rho ALv/m$. Looks good?

13. Jul 7, 2013

### voko

This agrees with the answer given.

However, I have a reservation. The velocity $v'$ is with respect to the pipe, which is fixed to the trolley. You are required to find the velocity of the trolley with respect to the ground.

14. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

So $v'=v_L-v_P$? where $v_L$ is velocity of liquid and $v_P$ is velocity of pipe with respect to ground. What should I replace $v_P$ with?

15. Jul 7, 2013

### voko

$v_p$ is what you are supposed to find.

16. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

So what about $v_L$ then? :uhh:

17. Jul 7, 2013

### voko

Obviously, $v_L = v' + v_P$ :)

The mass of the liquid in the pipe has velocity $v_L$; everything else has velocity $v_P$,

18. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

:tongue:
Conserving linear momentum,
$$\rho aL(v'+v_P)=mv_f$$
Is this what I am supposed to solve?

Last edited: Jul 7, 2013
19. Jul 7, 2013

### voko

$v$ is the vertical velocity in the cylinders; I do not see how it could possibly be in that conservation law. Besides, $m$ is the mass of the entire system, which includes the mass in the pipe, which is travelling at a different velocity, so that cannot be right, either.

20. Jul 7, 2013

### Pranav-Arora

Woops sorry, I should have used a different symbol.
So what am I supposed to do now?