U-Tube Mass and Pressure Problem

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a U-tube filled with water, where one arm has a radius twice that of the other. The caps on both arms are watertight and can slide freely. The discussion centers around determining the mass of water in the right arm and understanding the pressure differences between the two arms at equilibrium.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express uncertainty about how to begin solving the problem and raise questions regarding the units of pressure and the pressure at various points in the U-tube. There is also a focus on the implications of the differing radii of the arms.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants seeking clarification on fundamental concepts such as pressure and its relationship to the setup of the U-tube. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need for more effort in understanding the problem, but no consensus or clear direction has emerged yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the right arm's radius is double that of the left, and there is a weight on top of each tube. There is an emphasis on the need for participants to engage more deeply with the problem rather than seeking direct answers.

dspivak01
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
1. A U-tube is filled with water, and the two arms are capped. (Intro 1 figure) The tube is cylindrical, and the right arm has twice the radius of the left arm. The caps have negligible mass, are watertight, and can freely slide up and down the tube.



2. The locations of the two caps at equilibrium are now as given in this figure. (Part D figure) The dashed line represents the level of the water in the left arm.
What is the mass of the water located in the right arm between the dashed line and the right cap?



3. Not a clue of how to start (or finish) this problem
 

Attachments

  • Part D.jpg
    Part D.jpg
    5 KB · Views: 602
Physics news on Phys.org
dspivak01 said:
1. A U-tube is filled with water, and the two arms are capped. (Intro 1 figure) The tube is cylindrical, and the right arm has twice the radius of the left arm. The caps have negligible mass, are watertight, and can freely slide up and down the tube.



2. The locations of the two caps at equilibrium are now as given in this figure. (Part D figure) The dashed line represents the level of the water in the left arm.
What is the mass of the water located in the right arm between the dashed line and the right cap?



3. Not a clue of how to start (or finish) this problem

What are the units of pressure? What is the water pressure at the surface in the left tube? What is the pressure at the surface in the right tube? What is the pressure at the level line in the right tube? What accounts for the difference between the pressure at the surface in the right tube, and the level line in the right tube?
 
Everything i put up is all that i know. The radius of the right side is double of the left side. and there is a 1kg weight on top of each tube like in the attached picture.
 
dspivak01 said:
Everything i put up is all that i know. The radius of the right side is double of the left side. and there is a 1kg weight on top of each tube like in the attached picture.

Sorry, that is not enough effort on your part for this website. We do not do your work for you here.

Please answer my questions in my post above. You might actually solve your own schoolwork question by doing so.
 

Similar threads

Pressure-related problem with Mercury and Water in a U-tube
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
7K
How Is Fluid Pressure Calculated in a U-Tube Experiment?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
44K
Pressures in a U Tube along a line - different liquids
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
5K
Pressure measurement in U tube with mercury and water
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Conceptual Pressure Question: Fluid Pressure in a U-Tube
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
25K
Fluid Statics- u-tube displacement
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
7K
What is the effect of applied pressure on a partially filled U-shaped tube?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Bouyant Force in a U Shaped Plastic Tube
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Pressure due to two liquids in a U-tube
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Fluid mechanics - Pascal's principle
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K