Pressure on a piston in a cylinder

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the pressure and height of a piston in a vertical cylinder containing an ideal gas. The pressure was correctly calculated as 1.02 x 10^5 Pa by considering the force exerted by the piston and atmospheric pressure. For the volume, the user applied the ideal gas law but questioned the resulting height calculation of 0.1 m, which was initially marked incorrect by the UTexas system. Despite confirming the calculations, the user remained confused about the discrepancy in the height answer. The conversation highlights the importance of precision in significant figures and the need to verify answers against system requirements.
Jimkatz809
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Homework Statement



A vertical cylinder of cross-sectional area 0.25 m2 is fitted with a tight-fitting, frictionless piston of mass 22 kg. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s2 . If there are 1 mol of an ideal gas in the cylinder at 310 K, find the pressure inside the cylinder. Assume that the system is in equilibrium. Answer in units of Pa. At what height will the piston be in equilibrium under its own weight? Answer in units of m.

Homework Equations


Pressure=F/Area
PV=nRT
Height= Volume /Area



The Attempt at a Solution


Pressure =F/Area (22kg x 9.8m/s^2)/(0.25m^2) Then I added atmospheric pressure to this pressure which is 1.013x10^5 Pa. I got an answer for pressure as 1.02x10^5 Pa and I got it correct.
Then for volume I have been trying V= (1 mol x 8.3145 x 310 K)/(1.02x10^5) and I get .025 as my volume but I think this number is off and I can't figure out why... I don't want to move forward until I figure this part out.
 
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.025 looks good to me.
 
The volume is correct, in m^3. The question asks for the height, which is .025/.25 = .1 m or 10 cm. What is the answer you are given?

AM
 
I the calculations as you said and got .1 m just as you said and I tried puting it into the UTexas system but its said that is wrong. I don't understand because it makes no sense that should be the answer.
 
Jimkatz809 said:
I the calculations as you said and got .1 m just as you said and I tried puting it into the UTexas system but its said that is wrong. I don't understand because it makes no sense that should be the answer.
Try .10 m (two sig. figures).

AM
 
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