Pressure-Volume PV=C Air & Water in sealed vessel.

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a homework problem involving the relationship between pressure and volume in a sealed vessel containing air and water. Participants are exploring the implications of pressure changes due to varying water heights and how these affect the volume of air in the vessel.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in solving the final part of the problem, noting that they have already solved previous parts and are unsure how to find the pressure of the water using the equation involving atmospheric pressure.
  • Another participant points out that the pressure of the air is related to the height of the water column, suggesting that the air pressure will be less than atmospheric pressure due to the height of the water.
  • A participant indicates confusion regarding how to derive the height of the water and its relationship to the volume of air, mentioning attempts to rearrange equations without success.
  • One suggestion is made to use actual values for calculations to better understand the relationships involved, proposing a specific height to facilitate the calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus, as there are ongoing uncertainties about the relationships between pressure, volume, and height in the context of the problem. Multiple viewpoints and approaches are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of pressure and volume in the context of the problem, as well as the specific relationships between the variables involved. The discussion reflects a range of interpretations and methods without a clear path to a solution.

Gorz
Messages
29
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


2m6sx3r.jpg



Homework Equations



I cannot work out the last part (iii) All other parts have been solved.

The Attempt at a Solution


From part (ii) I found the new height of the water, and therefore the volume of water and air in the vessel. The Pressure of the water P1 can't be found using; rho.g.h+Patmos(for the water) and you know that P2 of the water is going to be Patmos.

Because you have 2 unknowns for the air, surely you must use V2=(P1V1/P2) However, this yields a greater volume that started with, indicating that the height has increase, not gone done, which is what does happen.

Bet its a really simple solution, but I've been on it for about 3 hours.

Cheers.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Sunday Morning Bump.
 
Hi Gorz. Yes, you have 2 unknowns for the air. But the pressure of the air is related to the height of the column of water. Note that the pressure at the bottom of the tank for iii is atmospheric pressure, so the air pressure is going to be less than atmospheric. Air pressure will be less than atm by rho*g*h. Note that water height also provides a function for the volume of air since the total volume of the tank is simply the summation of the water volume plus the air volume. Does that help?
 
Im still baffled by this. I understand the concept of the Air being a vacuum pressure and that you would find it using Patmos-rho.g.h, its getting the height that I can't do. I am not sure what you meen about the height providing a function for the volume.

Ive tried rearranging the V=phiD^2.h/4 and subbing it into the PV=C equation, but I've got nowhere with that.
 
Hi Gorz. I don't have much time right now, but see if this helps. Rather than trying to derive the equation directly, sometimes it helps to do a calculation with actual values to see how you might go about determining the equation you need to derive.

Pick an actual value for H at random (let's say 1 meter) and using this value determine:
- The volume of air in the tank.
- The pressure of the air.
- The pressure at the bottom of the tank where the hole is.

Examine how you came up with the pressure of the air and water at the bottom and see if you can then go back and generalize the equations using variables. Hopefully once you do that, it will become obvious how to derive the equation you need.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
6K
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
8K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
7K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
937
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K