How Does Converting a Cylinder to a Sphere Affect Pressure Gradient?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on how converting a cylinder made from semipermeable material into a sphere affects the pressure gradient across the material. It involves fluid dynamics concepts, particularly in relation to pressure differences inside and outside the structures.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the change in pressure gradient when a cylinder is converted to a sphere, emphasizing the positive pressure inside and negative pressure outside the cylinder.
  • Another participant suggests that the problem is related to fluid dynamics and requests additional information about fluid flow to provide a more accurate analysis.
  • A different participant reiterates the initial question while adding assumptions about the thickness of the shell and the pressure difference being constant in both cases, noting that the pressure profile in a cylinder decreases with radius while in a sphere it decreases with the square of the radius.
  • One participant asks about the research done on the fundamentals of solution flow and pressure drop through semipermeable membranes, indicating a need for foundational knowledge before proceeding.
  • A participant mentions an average transmembrane pressure of 100-150 mm Hg and expresses a desire to test a hypothesis without prior research, seeking guidance on useful information.
  • Another participant challenges the request for information, insisting that the original poster should first understand the basic equation for osmotic pressure difference before receiving assistance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the effects of converting the cylinder to a sphere, and multiple competing views and assumptions about the problem remain. There is also disagreement on the level of prior knowledge required for further discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying assumptions about the thickness of the shell and the nature of the pressure difference, which may affect the analysis. There is also a lack of clarity regarding the specifics of fluid flow and the foundational equations relevant to the discussion.

edwardone123
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Have cylinder made from semipermeable material .There is positive pressure inside cylinder and negative pressure outside cylinder .How gradient of pressure will be changed if we convert from cylinder t o sphere?
Thank you
 
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I guess this is a fluid dynamics problem, @Chestermiller could have a look at this but I think you should give us a diagram or an image. I believe the crucial piece of information we are missing is how is the fluid flow outside and/or inside the cylinder or the sphere.
 
edwardone123 said:
Have cylinder made from semipermeable material .There is positive pressure inside cylinder and negative pressure outside cylinder .How gradient of pressure will be changed if we convert from cylinder t o sphere?
Thank you
I take it that this shell, whether cylinder or sphere, is of non-negligible thickness and that this thickness is the same for the two situations. I also take it that the pressure difference across the shell is also identical in the two cases.

One would further assume that the diffusion rate through an infinitesimal thickness of shell is in proportion to the pressure gradient across that thickness.

In the case of a cylinder, one can see that to maintain a constant flow rate through all of the concentric shells, the pressure profile across the shell must decrease in proportion to the radius. In the case of a sphere, it must decrease in proportion to the square of the radius.

Have you computed the pressure gradient as a function of radius for the cylindrical situation yet?
 
edwardone123 said:
Have cylinder made from semipermeable material .There is positive pressure inside cylinder and negative pressure outside cylinder .How gradient of pressure will be changed if we convert from cylinder t o sphere?
Thank you
What research have you done so far regarding the fundamentals of (presumably aqueous electrolyte) solution flow and pressure drop through semipermeable membranes?
 
Average trans membrane pressure in this situation is about 100-150 mm Hg .I am just testing hypothesis and didn't do any preliminary research.What info could be utilized?
Thank you very much
 
edwardone123 said:
Average trans membrane pressure in this situation is about 100-150 mm Hg .I am just testing hypothesis and didn't do any preliminary research.What info could be utilized?
Thank you very much
Not so fast. We're not going to spoon feed this to you. What is the basic equation for the osmotic pressure difference when there is no flow? You are going to have to do some research on your own first before we are willing to help you.
 

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