Pressure as a function of depth

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving a barometer filled with oil and its comparison to a mercury barometer. The original poster attempts to determine the density of oil based on given heights and the known density of mercury.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the heights of the oil and mercury columns and question how to equate their pressures. There is discussion about the appropriate heights to use and the meaning of variables in the equations presented.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, seeking clarification on the wording and the variables involved. Some guidance has been offered regarding the cancellation of terms in the pressure equations, but multiple interpretations of the problem remain under consideration.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of confusion regarding the wording of the problem, and participants are questioning the assumptions related to the heights of the fluid columns in the barometer.

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1. There is a 16.8 m tall oil-filled barometer. The barometer column is 80.0% filled w/ oil when the column of a mercury barometer has a height of 722mm Hg. If the density of mercury is 1.36 x 10^4 kg/m^3, what is the density of oil?

Homework Equations


P=Po + pgh
D=m/v

The Attempt at a Solution



so the oil barometer has 13.44 m of oil. I know density of the mercury and the height of the mercury barometer. Do i have to set abs. pressure of oil to that of mercury and go from there? Any feedback would be appreciated.
 
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Is there a picture that goes along with this problem? Its worded in a way that confuses me (and you too, no doubt)?

Assuming the most straightforward situation,

Pa+Xrho*g*h=Pa+Hgrho*g*h. the Pa for ambient or atmospheric pressure cancel. G divides out. Does that help?
 
yeah it is worded a bit weird. Ok, so what's Xrho and Hgrho. Do u mean the density of the oil and mercury by that? And also for the depth of the oil, do i use 16.8 or 13.44 which is the height of the oil in the barometer?
 
Last edited:
yep I should bite the bullet and download Latex, but yes rho(density) for oil and Hg. And assuming these are separate physical systems, the height for oil would be 13.44
 
thx bro appreciate it.
 
No prob, keep coming back ;-D
 

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