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Problem 3.34 PDF

This problem involves calculating the barometric pressure using a mercury barometer. Given information includes the heights of the mercury (h1 and h2) and water columns, specific gravity of mercury, and vapor pressure of water at 70°F. The hydrostatic pressure equation is used to relate the pressure changes to the height changes of mercury and water. This allows setting up an equation to calculate the atmospheric pressure (patm) in terms of the known quantities. The calculated atmospheric pressure is 14.41 psi. At a higher temperature of 85°F, the vapor pressure of water increases, so if atmospheric pressure stayed the same, the mercury column height would have to decrease to maintain equilibrium.

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Kauê Britto
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81 views

Problem 3.34 PDF

This problem involves calculating the barometric pressure using a mercury barometer. Given information includes the heights of the mercury (h1 and h2) and water columns, specific gravity of mercury, and vapor pressure of water at 70°F. The hydrostatic pressure equation is used to relate the pressure changes to the height changes of mercury and water. This allows setting up an equation to calculate the atmospheric pressure (patm) in terms of the known quantities. The calculated atmospheric pressure is 14.41 psi. At a higher temperature of 85°F, the vapor pressure of water increases, so if atmospheric pressure stayed the same, the mercury column height would have to decrease to maintain equilibrium.

Uploaded by

Kauê Britto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Problem 3.

34 [Difficulty: 4]

Given: Barometer with water on top of the mercury column, Temperature is


known:
h2 = 6.5⋅ in h1 = 28.35⋅ in SGHg = 13.55 (From Table A.2, App. A) T = 70 °F

pv = 0.363⋅ psi (From Table A.7, App. A)

Find: (a) Barometric pressure in psia


(b) Effect of increase in ambient temperature on length of mercury
column for the same barometric pressure: Tf = 85 °F

Solution: We will apply the hydrostatics equations to this system.

Governing Equations: dp
= − ρ⋅ g (Hydrostatic Pressure - h is positive downwards)
dh
ρ = SG⋅ ρwater (Definition of Specific Gravity)

Assumptions: (1) Static liquid


(2) Incompressible liquid Water vapor

Integrating the hydrostatic pressure equation we get: Water


h2
Δp = ρ⋅ g⋅ Δh

Start at the free surface of the mercury and progress through the barometer to the vapor Mercury
pressure of the water:
h1

patm − ρHg⋅ g⋅ h1 − ρwater⋅ g⋅ h2 = pv

(
patm = pv + ρwater⋅ g⋅ SGHg⋅ h1 + h2 )
2 3
lbf ⋅ s
× ( 13.55 × 28.35⋅ in + 6.5⋅ in) × ⎛⎜
lbf slug ft ft ⎞ lbf
patm = 0.363⋅ + 1.93 ⋅ × 32.2⋅ × ⎟ patm = 14.41⋅
in
2
ft
3
s
2 slug⋅ ft ⎝ 12⋅ in ⎠ in
2

At the higher temperature, the vapor pressure of water increases to 0.60 psi. Therefore, if the atmospheric pressure
were to remain constant, the length of the mercury column would have to decrease - the increased water vapor would
push the mercury out of the tube!

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