Determining Height of Mercury in U-tube: Air Flow Rate of 1200 cm^3/s

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the height of mercury in a U-tube given an air flow rate of 1200 cm³/s. The problem involves applying Bernoulli's equation and considering fluid dynamics principles, specifically in the context of an ideal fluid.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the velocity of air in two different tube diameters and apply Bernoulli's equation to find the height of mercury. Some participants question the accuracy of the constants used for air and mercury densities.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the calculations and constants used in the problem. One participant has identified a potential error in the densities used, which led to a correction and a satisfactory result. There is no explicit consensus on the initial approach, but guidance has been provided regarding the correct values for the densities.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of reliance on online resources for physical constants, indicating potential constraints in accessing accurate information. The original poster's physics book was noted as being too large to bring home.

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Ok, Air flows through this tube at a rate of 1200 cm^3/s. Assume that air is an ideal fluid.
What is the height h of mercury in the right side of the U-tube?
Here's a picture:
http://session.masteringphysics.com/problemAsset/1001181/6/knight_Figure_15_64.jpg

First, I found the velocity of the air in the 2 cm and 4 mm tube.
In m/s, for the 2cm, i came up with 1200/(1000000pi(.01^2))
and for the 4mm 1200/(1000000pi(.002^2))
Then, I plugged it into bernoulli's equation, with the density of air as 1.2 kg/m^3. This gave the 2cm tunnel to have 5462.5 less pascals than the other 4 mm tube.
Then, using 13540 for the kg/m^3 of Hg, and setting the pressures of the two sides equal, I came up with:
5462.5 = 13540 (9.8) (h), which gave me h= .0412 m, or 4.12 cm, which is wrong. Anybody know what I did wrong?
 
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I'm not seeing a problem with what you did. Do you know the answer that is expected?
 
I wish I knew the answer that is expected :P Do you know if those are the right densities I used in kg/m^3?
 
Found out I was using the wrong densities ^^ I used 1.3 kg/m^3 for air and 13700 for Hg and got the right answer. My physics book is too big to bring home, so I rely on google for my constants :(
 

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