What Is the Pressure Inside a Water Cannon Shooting at 25m/s?

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SUMMARY

The pressure inside a water cannon shooting water at 25 m/s can be calculated using Bernoulli's principle and the formula for pressure in a liquid. The height required for the water to exit at this velocity is approximately 31 meters, leading to a calculated pressure of 303,800 Pa. However, the correct absolute pressure, which includes atmospheric pressure, is 412,500 Pa. This discrepancy arises from the need to account for atmospheric pressure in the final calculation.

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Homework Statement



Water is coming out of a water cannon at 25m/s, what is the pressure inside the cannon?


Homework Equations


Bernoulli's (modifiedd): v = √(2gh) -> h = v^2/2g
Prssure(liquid) : P = ρgh


The Attempt at a Solution



Well, I wasn't too sure how a water cannon works, so I "made one" that is just a giant vat with a lot of water, and a hole at the bottom.

I figured that for the water to come out at 25m/s, the height would have to be ~31m.
h = (25^2)/2g

So then I said, Pressure must be equal to ρgh, which is 1000 * 9.8 * 31m = 303,800Pa

But the answer the book gives says its "4.125 x 10^5 Pa absolute."

Any idea why my solution is incorrect?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Absolute pressure? Did You take into consideration atmospheric pressure?
 
Oh jeeze, I guess that would give me the ~100000 Pascals I need for the answer, thanks!
 

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