Small hole at bottom of cylindrical tank draining water?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a cylindrical tank with a specified radius and initial water level, which has a small hole at the bottom. Participants are discussing how to determine the time it takes to empty the tank using principles of fluid dynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply Bernoulli's principle and derive a solution based on the velocity of water draining from the hole. Some participants question the validity of using the formula for velocity at the hole, suggesting the continuity equation should be applied instead. Others discuss the relative sizes of the hole and tank, considering whether the hole's area is indeed negligible.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering different perspectives on the assumptions made regarding the velocity of water and the applicability of certain equations. There is no explicit consensus, but several lines of reasoning are being explored, including the impact of the hole's size on the calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the professor has allowed for the assumption that the velocity at the top of the tank is negligible compared to that at the bottom, which influences their approach to the problem.

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Homework Statement



the tank has a radius of 2m, containing an initial water level of 3m. A hole at the very bottom (underneath) of the tank has radius .005m. How long will it take to empty the tank?

Homework Equations



Bernoulli's principle.
A=radius at top of tank
a=radius of drain hole

The Attempt at a Solution



after solving V=sqrt(2gh) [at the hole in the bottom], i set dV/dt=--a*sqrt(2gh), so A(dy/dt)=-a*sqrt(2gh). After integrating both sides and solving for C, I got that (A/g)sqrt(2gh)=-8at+(A/g)sqrt(6g)
Then I plugged everything in with h=0 and got that t=15649.2sec=4.35 hours.

Did I do this right? Did you get the same answer?

Thanks so much in advance! I appreciate it!
 
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Hey You can't apply sqrt(2gh) when area of hole is given.sqrt(2gh) is when area of hole is very small.You need to apply continuity equation to get velocity outside hole Av1=av2, where v1 is velocity just before water is inside cylinder, & v2 is velocity of water just after coming out of hole.
you should get velocity v2=sqrt(2gh/(1-(a2/A2))).
 
Even accepting the point from 1994Bhaskar, since the radius of the hole is given as 0.005 m and the radius of the tank is 2 m, I think a simple calculation shows the area of the hole is in fact "very small" in relation to the cross sectional area of the tank. The correction factor for v2 is 0.99999375, using the information given. In other words, v = sqrt (2gh).
 
Yes that is a great point 1994Bhaskar, but my professor said we are allowed to assume that the velocity at the top is negligible compared to the bottom, So I'll just use v=sqrt(2gh). Thanks so much for your help guys! :)
 

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