Pressure of air inside a glass

  • #1
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TL;DR Summary
How does putting a cover affect the pressure inside a glass filled with air?
Let's consider an uncovered glass. Air particles are present in the glass.
1679724724893.png

$$ P_1 = P_a$$ $$P_2 =P_1 +\rho gh = P_a +\rho g h$$where ##P_A## is atmospheric pressuere and ##\rho ## is air density.


1679725186723.png

Now, if I cover the glass with a plastic card, then what is ## P_1##?
$$P_2 =P_1 +\rho gh $$
1) ## P_1 ## is pressure due to motion of air particles and the air particles near the cover interact with the cover and its speed may change and hence ##P_1## may be less or more than ##P_a##.

2) Following three forces are acting on the cover:
1679725733426.png

a) force due to pressure ##P_1## of air particles
b) normal force N due to glass walls
c) cover's weight W

Applying Newton's first law gives,
$$ P_1 A+ N = W$$ $$P_1 A = W - N$$
Now, since normal force is self-adjustable, let's take a light plastic card such that N = 0. Hence, in this case ##P_1 A = W ##.
For a plastic card with mass 20g and area 20cm2, ## P_1 = 10 Pa## which is lower than the atmospheric pressure.
So, the conclusion is: putting a cover reduces the pressure of air inside the glass. Is this correct?
 

Answers and Replies

  • #2
So, the conclusion is: putting a cover reduces the pressure of air inside the glass. Is this correct?
No.
There will be a hydrostatic difference in pressure due to the thickness of the card, but that difference will be overcome by the density of the card, which is resting on the glass.
 
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  • #3
No.
There will be a hydrostatic difference in pressure due to the thickness of the card, but that difference will be overcome by the density of the card, which is resting on the glass.
And/or the card will bend down/inward due to its own weight and the resulting pressure in the glass will be higher than atmospheric.
 
  • #4
Define Pa as the atmospheric pressure at the top edge, inside the glass.
The following four forces are acting on a cover of thickness; t
a) force due to pressure of air from below; A·Pa
b) force due to pressure of air from above; A·(Pa - ρ·g·t)
c) cover's weight; W
d) normal force upwards due to glass wall; N
N + A·Pa = W + A·(Pa - ρ·g·t)
N = W - ρ·g·t
ρ·g·t
is the buoyancy of the card
 

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