How Does Altitude Affect the Weight of Water?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the effect of altitude on the weight of water, specifically comparing calculations at sea level and at an altitude of 5374 feet in Colorado. The subject area includes concepts of density, mass, and gravitational acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations of weight based on density and gravitational acceleration, questioning the accuracy of the original poster's results. There is also a shift towards considering the implications of using different units of measurement.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes varying perspectives on the calculations presented, with some participants affirming the original poster's results while others challenge their accuracy. There is an exploration of the relationship between gravitational acceleration and weight, as well as a preference for metric units expressed by one participant.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating potential misunderstandings regarding unit conversions and the implications of gravitational differences at varying altitudes. There is no consensus on the correctness of the calculations presented.

yenting
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
water has a density of 62.4lbm/ft^3 .How much does 2ft^3 of water weight at sea level and in Colorado where the altitude is 5374ft and the gravitational acceleration is 32.139ft/s^2?
Solution :

density=mass/volume
62.4lbm/ft^3=mass/2ft^3
mass=124.8lbm

w=mg
=124.8lbm*32.174ft/s^2
=4.015*10^3lbf (sea level)

w=mg
=124.8lbm*32.139ft/s^2
=4.011*10^3lbf (Colorado)

is that correct?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes it is.
 
Sorry, you are both wrong. According to your calculation, yenting, one cubic foot of water weighs about two tons.

One lbm is equivalent to about 0.454 kg. One lbm also has a weight of one pound force when g = 32.174 ft/s^2.
 
Thanks for checking SteamKing.

I'll stick to metric, it's so much easier.

So its the ratio 32.139:32.174 that gives the value of g. That makes much more sense.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
21
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K