Heat released by mercury while filling up the tube

In summary, the conversation discussed the release of heat in a situation where an airless tube connected to a pot of mercury was opened. The height and mass of the mercury increased, and the topic of using the first law of thermodynamics and the equation A=mgh was brought up. A possible source of heat generation due to shearing of the liquid was also mentioned, with the assumption that the flow was initially at thermal equilibrium with its environment.
  • #1
mazhius
1
0
1. I have an airless tube connected to a pot full of mercury. After opening the tap, marked as K, mercury grew up by height h and mass m. How much heat was released in this situation?

P.S. I do not have any exact numbers or sizes...only variables...

2. Homework Equations
none

3. All i did yet, is that i tried to think about the first law of thermodynamics, but what i get here is that i do not have the capacity V when calcutating the work. I also think I should use A=mgh, because i have m and h
So could anybody give me any idea where should I start?
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/721/kraniukas.png [Broken]
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  • #2
The only thing I can think of is the heat generated due to shearing of the liquid. Here, with the liquid flowing in a conduit, the liquid in contact with the wall has zero velocity. As you move radially inward, the velocity reaches a maximum at the center of the tube. Therefore, there is shearing going on and a small amount of heat will be generated and there is a small temperature rise. Assuming the flow the mercury was at thermal equilibrium with its environment initially, the very slight heat build up will pass through the glass tube and enter the environment.
 

1. How does mercury release heat while filling up a tube?

Mercury is a liquid metal that is naturally at a higher temperature than its surroundings. As it moves and settles in a tube, it transfers this excess heat to the surrounding air or surface, causing the mercury to cool down and release heat.

2. Why is heat released by mercury while filling up a tube?

This release of heat is due to the difference in temperature between the mercury and its surroundings. As the mercury moves and cascades, it comes into contact with cooler surfaces and therefore releases heat to reach a state of equilibrium.

3. Is the amount of heat released by mercury while filling up a tube significant?

The amount of heat released by mercury depends on the amount of mercury and the temperature difference between the mercury and its surroundings. In most cases, the amount of heat released is relatively small and does not have a significant impact.

4. Can the heat released by mercury while filling up a tube cause any harm?

The heat released by mercury is generally not harmful as it is relatively small and dissipates quickly. However, if the tube is filled with a large amount of mercury and is in a confined space, it could potentially cause a slight increase in temperature and pose a minor risk.

5. How can the heat released by mercury while filling up a tube be measured?

The amount of heat released by mercury can be measured using a thermometer or a heat sensor. By placing the thermometer or sensor near the tube, any changes in temperature can be detected and used to calculate the amount of heat released by the mercury.

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