Physics 151: Lecture 29

Today’s Agenda

 Today’s topics
 Fluids under static conditions, Ch. 14.1 through 14.4
 Pressure
 Pascal’s Principle (hydraulic lifts etc.)
 Archimedes’ Principle (floatation)

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 1

 See text: 14.1

Fluids
 At ordinary temperature, matter exists in one of three
states
 Solid - has a shape and forms a surface
 Liquid - has no shape but forms a surface
 Gas - has no shape and forms no surface

 What do we mean by “fluids”?

 Fluids are “substances that flow”…. “substances that
take the shape of the container”
 Atoms and molecules are free to move.
 No long range correlation between positions.

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 2

 See text: 14.1

Fluids
 What parameters do we use to describe fluids?
 Density

m
 units :
V kg/m3 = 10-3 g/cm3

(water) = 1.000 x103 kg/m3 = 1.000 g/cm3

(ice) = 0.917 x103 kg/m3 = 0.917 g/cm3

(air) = 1.29 kg/m3 = 1.29 x10-3 g/cm3

(Hg) = 13.6 x103 kg/m3 = 13.6 g/cm3

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 3

 Fluids
 What parameters do we use to describe fluids?
 Pressure F
p
units :
A
1 N/m2 = 1 Pa (Pascal) 1atm = 1.013 x105 Pa
1 bar = 105 Pa = 1013 mbar
1 mbar = 102 Pa = 760 Torr
1 torr = 133.3 Pa = 14.7 lb/m2 (=PSI)

 Any force exerted by a fluid is perpendicular to a surface of

contact, and is proportional to the area of that surface.
 Force (a vector) in a fluid can be expressed in terms of
pressure (a scalar) as:
n
F  pAnˆ A

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 4

 See text: 14.2

Pressure vs. Depth

Incompressible Fluids (liquids)
 When the pressure is much less p
0
than the bulk modulus of the fluid,
we treat the density as constant F1
y1
independent of pressure: p1
y2
incompressible fluid A
p2
 For an incompressible fluid, the
density is the same everywhere, mg F2
but the pressure is NOT!
 Consider an imaginary fluid volume (a cube, face area A)
 The sum of all the forces on this volume must be ZERO as
it is in equilibrium: F2 - F1 - mg = 0

F2  F1  p2 A  p1 A p2  p1  g ( y 2  y1 )
mg ( y 2  y1 ) Ag

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 5

 See text: 14.2

Pressure vs. Depth

 For a fluid in an open container
pressure same at a given depth
y
independent of the container
p(y)
 Fluid level is the same
everywhere in a connected
container, assuming no surface
forces
 Why is this so? Why does the
pressure below the surface
depend only on depth if it is in
equilibrium?

 Imagine a tube that would connect two regions at the same depth.

 If the pressures were different, fluid would flow in the tube!

 However, if fluid did flow, then the system was NOT in equilibrium
since no equilibrium system will spontaneously leave equilibrium.

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 6

 Lecture 29, ACT 1
Pressure
 What happens with two fluids?? dI
Consider a U tube containing liquids of 2
density 1 and 2 as shown:
Compare the densities of the liquids: 1

A) 1 < 2 B) 1 = 2 C) 1 > 2

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 7

 Example
 A U-tube of uniform cross-
sectional area, open to the
atmosphere, is partially
filled with mercury. Water
is then poured into both
arms. If the equilibrium
configuration of the tube is
as shown in Figure on the
right, with h2 = 1.00 cm.

 Determine the value of h1.

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 8

 Example
 Figure on the right shows
Superman attempting to
drink water through a very
long straw. With his great
strength he achieves
maximum possible
suction. The walls of the
tubular straw do not
collapse.

 (a) Find the maximum

height through which he
can lift the water.

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 9

 See text: 14.2

Pascal’s Principle
 So far we have discovered (using Newton’s Laws):
 Pressure depends on depth: p = gy
 Pascal’s Principle addresses how a change in pressure is
transmitted through a fluid.
Any change in the pressure applied to an enclosed
fluid is transmitted to every portion of the fluid and to
the walls of the containing vessel.

 Pascal’s Principle explains the working of hydraulic lifts

 i.e. the application of a small force at one place can result
in the creation of a large force in another.
 Does this “hydraulic lever” violate conservation of energy?
» Certainly hope not.. Let’s calculate.

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 10

 See text: 14.2

Pascal’s Principle
 Consider the system shown: F1 F2

 A downward force F1 is applied

to the piston of area A1.
d2
 This force is transmitted through
d1
the liquid to create an upward
force F2.
 Pascal’s Principle says that A1 A2
increased pressure from F1
(F1/A1) is transmitted throughout
the liquid.
F1 F A2
 2 F2 F1
A1 A2 A1

 F2 > F1 : Have we violated conservation of energy??

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 11

 See text: 14.2

Pascal’s Principle
F1 F2
 Consider F1 moving through a
distance d1.
 How large is the volume of the d2
liquid displaced? d1
V1 d1 A1
 This volume determines the
displacement of the large piston. A1 A2

A1
V2  V1 d 2 d1
A2
A2 A
W2 F2 d 2 F1 d1 1 W1
A1 A2
 Therefore the work done by F1 equals the work done by F2
We have NOT obtained “something for nothing”.
Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 12
 Lecture 29, ACT 2a
Hydraulics
 Consider the systems shown to the dA M
right.
In each case, a block of mass M A1 A10
is placed on the piston of the large
cylinder, resulting in a difference dI
in the liquid levels.
dB M

If A2 = 2A1, compare dA and dB.

A2 A10

A) dA=(1/2)dB B) dA = dB C) dA = 2dB

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 13

 Lecture 29, ACT 2b
Hydraulics
 Consider the systems shown to the dA M
right.
In each case, a block of mass M is A1 A10
placed on the piston of the large
cylinder, resulting in a difference dI
in the liquid levels.
If A10 = 2A20, compare dA and dC.
dC M

A1 A20

A) dA = (1/2)dC B) dA = dC C) dA = 2dC

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 14

 See text: 14.4

Archimedes’ Principle
 Suppose we weigh an object in air (1) and in water (2).
 How do these weights compare?

W1 < W 2 W1 = W 2 W1 > W 2

 Why?
W1 W2?
» Since the pressure at the bottom
of the object is greater than that at
the top of the object, the water
exerts a net upward force, the
buoyant force, on the object.

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 15

 See text: 14.4

Archimedes’ Principle W1 W2?

 The buoyant force is equal to the difference

in the pressures times the area.
FB ( p2  p1 ) A  g(y 2 - y1)A
FB   liquid gVliquid M liquid g Wliquid

Archimedes:
The buoyant force is equal to the
F
weight of the liquid displaced. y1 1
y2
p
1
A
 The buoyant force determines whether p
an object will sink or float. How does 2

this work? F
2

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 16

 See text: 14.4

Sink or Float?
 The buoyant force is equal to the weight
of the liquid that is displaced. y
 If the buoyant force is larger than the
weight of the object, it will float; otherwise FB mg
it will sink.
 We can calculate how much of a floating object will be
submerged in the liquid:
 Object is in equilibrium FB mg
 liquid g Vliquid   object g Vobject

Vliquid  object

Vobject  liquid Animation

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 17

 See text: 14.4

The Tip of the Iceberg

 What fraction of an iceberg is submerged?

Vliquid  object y

Vobject  liquid
FB mg

Vwater  ice 917 kg/m3

  3
90%
Vice water 1024 kg/m

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 18

 Lecture 29, ACT 3
Buoyancy
 A lead weight is fastened to a large Pb
styrofoam block and the combination
styrofoam
floats on water with the water level with
the top of the styrofoam block as shown.
 If you turn the styrofoam+Pb upside
down, what happens?

styrofoam
A) It sinks B) styrofoam C) styrofoam D) Pb
Pb
Pb

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 19

 See text: 14.4

ACT 3-A
More Fun With Buoyancy

 Two cups are filled to the same level Cup II

Cup I
with water. One of the two cups has
plastic balls floating in it.
Which cup weighs more?

(A) Cup I (B) Cup II (C) the same (D) can’t tell

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 20

 See text: 14.4

ACT 3-B
Even More Fun With Buoyancy
l
oi
 A plastic ball floats in a cup of water with
half of its volume submerged. Next some
oil (oil < ball < water) is slowly added to the
container until it just covers the ball. water

Relative to the water level, the ball will:

(A) move up (B) move down (C) stay in same place

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 21

 Recap of today’s lecture

 Chapter 14.1-4
 Pressure
 Pascal’s Principle
 Archimedes Principle

Physics 151: Lecture 29, Pg 22