Solving an Air Pressure Question: Who Is Right?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of air pressure inside a test tube (epruvete) submerged in water. The correct formula for determining the air pressure is given as ambient pressure plus the hydrostatic pressure, which is calculated using the density of water multiplied by gravitational acceleration and the height difference (delta h). The confusion arises from the interpretation of the term "density," which refers to water in this context, not air. Participants clarify that the internal pressure is influenced by the water level and the air compression within the test tube.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of hydrostatic pressure principles
  • Familiarity with the concept of atmospheric pressure
  • Knowledge of basic fluid mechanics
  • Ability to interpret scientific terminology in multiple languages (e.g., French for "eprouvette")
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  • Learn about the relationship between atmospheric pressure and fluid levels in closed systems
  • Research the applications of barometers and their functioning
  • Explore the effects of air compression in various fluid dynamics scenarios
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Students of physics, educators teaching fluid mechanics, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of pressure in fluids will benefit from this discussion.

Callmelucky
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Homework Statement
I might be wrong but I think it is author.
Relevant Equations
Pressure= density * g * h
Can someone please answer this question, so I can figure who is wrong here, me or author. Thank you.1.question (picture below): empty epruvete turned upside down is dipped in glass filled with water to the depth H. While doing that water enters the epruvete and reaches height of h. The AIR pressure inside the epruvete is: I wrote just density(of air) * g(gr. const.)* height(of epruvete - h). The answer is apparently Po(air pressure) + density * g(gr. const.) * (H-h). I am not sure if it's ment density of water or air(since it's not stated), but if they mean density of water I don't understand how is that so, I don't get what water has to do with air pressure inside the epruvete(if pressure = F/A), so please explain if you can/want. Thank you.

But anyway I think that air pressure inside the epruvete should be density(of air) * g(gr. const.) * height(of epruvete - h), if hidrostatic pressure= density * g * height.

Thank you.
 

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1. A mercury barometer is a pipe with a closed top that is long enough to have a vacuum above the mercury.

So yes, there is sufficient Hg to fill a column.

2. I have no idea what an epruvete is (google come up with that ?). But from the picture I expect the pipe is not empty at all, but filled with air. There is no Hg here, so they mean the density of water. The pressure at the water level in the pipe is ambient pressure plus some ##\rho g \,\Delta h## :
1675557901350.png


which I hope you understand by now... ?
( height(of epruvete - h) ... :nb) ?)

##\ ##
 
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BvU said:
1. A mercury barometer is a pipe with a closed top that is long enough to have a vacuum above the mercury.

So yes, there is sufficient Hg to fill a column.

2. I have no idea what an epruvete is (google come up with that ?). But from the picture I expect the pipe is not empty at all, but filled with air. There is no Hg here, so they mean the density of water. The pressure at the water level in the pipe is ambient pressure plus some ##\rho g \,\delta h## :
View attachment 321768

which I hope you understand by now... ?
( height(of epruvete - h) ... :nb) ?)

##\ ##
epruvete is test tube, I thought that is the same on all languages(my bad).

Yeah but, in task it's asked for air pressure inside test tube.

It's not a barometer.
 
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Edit: Sorry. I didn't read BvU properly. I think he already said this.

Eprouvette is just a test tube. Eprouver = to test (from french)
Presumably filled with air. As pushed into water, air is compressed and stops water rising to outside level.

Level depression is delta h, so internal pressure is just (density of water) x (delta h) x (g) above atmospheric.
IE. just the hydrostatic pressure, because the pressure of the water at the water/air interface in the tube must be that. What's inside the tube is irrelevant.
 
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BvU said:
1. A mercury barometer is a pipe with a closed top that is long enough to have a vacuum above the mercury.

So yes, there is sufficient Hg to fill a column.

2. I have no idea what an epruvete is (google come up with that ?). But from the picture I expect the pipe is not empty at all, but filled with air. There is no Hg here, so they mean the density of water. The pressure at the water level in the pipe is ambient pressure plus some ##\rho g \,\Delta h## :
View attachment 321768

which I hope you understand by now... ?
( height(of epruvete - h) ... :nb) ?)

##\ ##
I didn't understand at first, now I do. Thank you for taking time to answer both of my questions. 🖖
 
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Merlin3189 said:
Edit: Sorry. I didn't read BvU properly. I think he already said this.

Eprouvette is just a test tube. Eprouver = to test (from french)
Presumably filled with air. As pushed into water, air is compressed and stops water rising to outside level.

Level depression is delta h, so internal pressure is just (density of water) x (delta h) x (g) above atmospheric.
IE. just the hydrostatic pressure, because the pressure of the water at the water/air interface in the tube must be that. What's inside the tube is irrelevant.
thank you for clarifying, 😃
 
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