Fluid Mechanics: Cross Sectional Area of Gas Tank?

[dmalwcc89]

Homework Statement

Gas pours into your gas tank at 5.3 gallons per minute.
You can't see it, but the gas level inside the tank rises at 4.3 inches per minute.

What is the cross sectional Area of the gas tank?
Is this realistic?

Homework Equations

I'm not sure what shape the tank is, but A = L*W, V = L*W*H

The Attempt at a Solution

I tried solving A by saying after one minute, there is 5.3 gallons in the tank = V. Then, H would be 4.3 at that instant, and this would give me A. But I get a 1.23 in value which makes no sense. Just to gauge where I am at in this class, we are beginning control volumes and in/out flows. So we're using equations that have to do with V(dot)A, where V is velocity. But this problem only has one inlet, so I'm not sure if that applies here.

 

[beho86]

What about Q = A V
and calculate A?!

Thanks,

 

[berksted]

Just remember the gallons is a volume measurement, so you just need to think about the units and solve for cross sectional area.