# Gauge pressure and mercury question

1. Dec 18, 2004

### stormnebula

I came across this multiple choice question while revising for my exams but I can't get any of the chioces. I've spent over an hour on this but can't figure out. Can someone please help me because it's starting to annoy me.

What is the gauge pressure at a depth of 6cm in a glass filled with 4cm of mercury and 4cm of water? Water has a density of 1000kg/m^3, and mercury has a density 13.6 times as great.
(a)3.1kPa
(b)5.6kPa
(c)5.8kPa
(d)310kPa
(e)560kPa

Any help will be great.

Last edited: Dec 18, 2004
2. Dec 18, 2004

### Staff: Mentor

Gauge pressure is the absolute pressure minus the ambient pressure, so the problem asks for the pressure in the column simply due to the depth of the liquids.

One has 4 cm of Hg and 4 cm of water, but the problem asks for pressure at a depth of 6 cm (from the upper surface). Hg is denser to it has to be on the bottom.

So what is the pressure underneath 4 cm water and 2 cm Hg.

Static pressure in a fluid is given by:

$$P = \rho\,g\,h$$ where $$\rho$$ is fluid density, g = acceleration of gravity (~9.81 m/s2), and h is height of fluid.

Consider 1 atm = 14.7 lbf/in2 = 760 mm Hg = 101.325 kPa = (760x13.6) mm water.

Final the partial pressures due to depths of each fluid and that will be the gauge pressure.

Last edited: Dec 18, 2004
3. Dec 19, 2004

### stormnebula

Thanks, I figured out the answer now. Your were a big help

4. Dec 11, 2010

### Blackplague

I had the same question. Can you please go step by step on how you aquired the answer, because I don't understand how to "final" the different liquids and getting a gauge pressure.

5. Dec 11, 2010

### tiny-tim

Welcome to PF!

Hi Blackplague! Welcome to PF!

If you don't understand the formula, look at it this way …

pressure = force/area

the gauge pressure at the bottom of the glass is the weight of all the liquid in a vertical cylinder, divided by the area of that cylinder …

so if you have a vertical cylinder of cross-section area A, what is the weight of water and mercury in that cylinder?