Gas Pressure Acting On Different Objects

In summary, the air pressure acting on an object produces a force perpendicular to the surface, which can be broken down into components to determine the force in the direction along the axis of the cylinder. When integrated across the entire surface, both the cylindrical and conical pistons have the same total force acting on them in that direction.
  • #1
cdey20
2
0
Does air pressure act the same on all objects?
Imagine you have two pistons, each with a 100PSI of air acting on one side of them.
One piston is a cylinder, naturally.
The other piston is a cone shape.

Do both pistons have the same amount of force pushing them to the right (see; picture)?
Or does the cone have less force pushing it to the right because it also has some force pushing it up, down, diaganol etc etc because of the cone shape?

Thanks.
 

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  • #2
Thanks, I think I just needed an analogy to put into perspective. Cheers.
 
  • #3
Pressure acting on an object produces a force that is perpendicular (or "normal") to the surface. Forces are vector quantities, so the force acting on the surface at any point can be broken down into its various components to determine a force in the direction along the axis of the cylinder. You can then integrate the pressure across the entire suface in the direction along the cylinder axis. When you do that, you'll find both pistons have the same total force acting on them in that direction.
 

1. How does gas pressure affect objects?

Gas pressure is the force that gas molecules exert on the walls of their container. When gas molecules collide with the walls, they create a force that pushes against the walls. This force is what we refer to as gas pressure. The greater the number of collisions, the higher the gas pressure, and the more it will affect objects.

2. Why do different objects experience different gas pressures?

The gas pressure acting on an object is determined by several factors, including the volume of the container, the temperature of the gas, and the number of gas molecules present. Different objects may have different volumes or be exposed to different temperatures, resulting in varying gas pressures acting on them.

3. How does the temperature of gas affect gas pressure?

The temperature of gas is directly related to the speed and energy of its molecules. Higher temperatures result in faster-moving molecules, leading to more frequent collisions with the container walls and therefore a higher gas pressure. Conversely, lower temperatures result in slower-moving molecules and lower gas pressure.

4. How does the volume of a container affect gas pressure?

The volume of a container is inversely related to gas pressure. This means that as the volume of a container increases, the gas molecules have more space to move around, resulting in fewer collisions with the walls and a lower gas pressure. Similarly, a smaller container will have a higher gas pressure due to the limited space for gas molecules to move.

5. How is gas pressure measured?

Gas pressure is typically measured using a device called a manometer, which contains a liquid that is affected by changes in pressure. The liquid will rise or fall depending on the gas pressure, and this can be measured using a scale. Other common units of measurement for gas pressure include atmospheres, pascals, and torr.

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