Find the Highest Pressure Point in this Conjoined Container

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
Sign up Log in
5 replies · 3K views
brainst0rm
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



In this conjoined container, water is filled up to the top at all three openings. Which letter point shows the highest point of pressure in this conjoined container?


````/~\``````````|~~~|`````\~~~~~~~/
``` /~~\`````````|~~~|``````\~~~~~~/
```/~~~\````````|~~~|```````\~~~~~/
``/~~~~\````````|~~~|```````\~C~~/
`/~~`A~~\_______|~B~|________\~~/
/_____________C__________________/


Key: ~ represents water
` ignore, represents space (used to post on forum)



Homework Equations



Pascal’s law, Pressure = Force/Area


The Attempt at a Solution



I think point C has the highest pressure point because two forces act on it from left to right and right to left. However, the pressure equilibrium comes to play and I am unsure which point displays the highest point of pressure. My second guess would be point C due to the higher force pushing downwards. What is the right answer? Thanks.
 

Discussion

Physics news on Phys.org
welcome to pf!

hi brainst0rm! welcome to pf! :smile:

i'm confused :redface: …

why are there two Cs in the diagram? :confused:​
 


Oops. I revised the data points with one point C and one point D.

Which letter point shows the highest point of pressure in this conjoined container?
1. Homework Statement

In this conjoined container, water is filled up to the top at all three openings. Which letter point shows the highest point of pressure in this conjoined container?


````/~\``````````|~~~|`````\~~~~~~~/
``` /~~\`````````|~~~|``````\~~~~~~/
```/~~~\````````|~~~|```````\~~~~~/
``/~~~~\````````|~~~|```````\~C~~/
`/~~`A~~\_______|~B~|________\~~'/
/_____________D__________________/


Key: ~ represents water
` ignore, represents space (used to post on forum)



2. Homework Equations

Pascal’s law, Pressure = Force/Area


3. The Attempt at a Solution

I think point D has the highest pressure point because two forces act on it from left to right and right to left. However, the pressure equilibrium comes to play and I am unsure which point displays the highest point of pressure. My second guess would be point C due to the higher force pushing downwards. What is the right answer? Thanks.
 
brainst0rm said:
I think point D has the highest pressure point because two forces act on it from left to right and right to left.

right, but for the wrong reason

(i don't even understand the reason…

pressure acts left right and all around everywhere :confused:)

the pressure in a liquid is ρgh (+ atmospheric pressure) …

are you not familiar with that formula?​
 


Oh yes, P = pgh. How about this?

P = pgh, or Pressure = (Density) x (gravity due to acceleration) x (height). Because all points share the same density and gravity due to acceleration, the highest pressure point would be the point with the largest height, which is Point D.
 
hi brainst0rm! :smile:
brainst0rm said:
Because all points share the same density and gravity due to acceleration, the highest pressure point would be the point with the largest height, which is Point D.

yes, that's right …

the shape of the container doesn't matter …

so long as it's open to the atmosphere, the pressure only depends on the depth :wink: