Pressure of 11,000m Water Column: Crushing or Equal to Bottom of Ocean?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Gondur
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Column Pressure Water
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the pressure exerted by an 11,000-meter water column, equivalent to the deepest part of the ocean. It is established that this height generates approximately 1,078 bars or 15,642 psi of pressure, which is significantly greater than the pressure at sea level. The conversation clarifies that the pressure experienced in a cylinder filled with water to this height would be the same as being at the bottom of the ocean, regardless of the cylinder's dimensions. The density of seawater, approximately 1,020 kg/m³, is also noted as a factor in pressure calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of hydrostatic pressure principles
  • Familiarity with pressure units such as bars and psi
  • Knowledge of water density, specifically seawater density
  • Basic grasp of atmospheric pressure effects on water columns
NEXT STEPS
  • Research hydrostatic pressure calculations using the formula P = ρgh
  • Explore the differences between freshwater and seawater density impacts on pressure
  • Learn about the effects of atmospheric pressure on submerged objects
  • Investigate the structural integrity of containers under extreme pressure conditions
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physicists, engineers, and anyone interested in fluid dynamics, particularly those exploring the effects of water pressure in various environments.

Gondur
Messages
25
Reaction score
0
Suppose a cylinder was made. It is the same height as the deepest part of the ocean to the ocean surface - about 11,000 metres and about 1 metre wide.

The cylinder was filled with water right to the top and stood on the Earth's surface.

A small hole at the bottom of the cyclinder was opened and you jumped inside.

Would you get crushed by the water pressure of the weight of the column of water?

Would it be the same as being at the bottom of the ocean?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Gondur said:
Would you get crushed by the water pressure of the weight of the column of water?

Would it be the same as being at the bottom of the ocean?

If we disregard the cylinder bursting, and disregard how you get in and out, yes to both.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: russ_watters
Nice thought experiment. Do you have any formulas we can use ? What is the pressure difference between the ocean surface and the 11000 m deep bottom ?
 
My uncle is very fat. He needs a 3m wide cylinder. Would that make a difference ?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: russ_watters, sophiecentaur and anorlunda
BvU said:
Nice thought experiment. Do you have any formulas we can use ? What is the pressure difference between the ocean surface and the 11000 m deep bottom ?

It doesn't matter if the water is in the ocean or the cylinder. 11,000 feet of head creates 4769 psi of pressure.
 
Now that we have fun, @Gondur: can you reproduce this pressure ? I get a different result. Lots (well...) of big and small differences.
 
Water column is 11000 m, not 11000 feet -- factor 3 worse
Density of sea water is around 1020 kg/m3 -- offsets the 9.81
Pressure at sea level is higher than at 11000 m height -- so the sea bottom is worse

Don't want readers to get the wrong idea.. :rolleyes:

All in good spirit.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: anorlunda
BvU said:
Water column is 11000 m, not 11000 feet -- factor 3 worse

Whoops, thanks for correcting me 11000m of head is 1078 bars of pressure, or 15642 psi.

BvU said:
Pressure at sea level is higher than at 11000 m height -- so the sea bottom is worse

Do you mean the 1 bar atmospheric pressure at sea level? Not very significant, and I think it just confuses the OP who was just wondering about the equivalence of open bodies of water compared to cylinders.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
5K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
6K
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
7K