Physics · Book 3 · Bachelor Year 1

University Physics — Year 1

University Physics — Year 1 · Bachelor Year 1

21Fluid Statics

A submarine at three hundred meters carries, on each square meter of its hull, the weight of a loaded truck. A dam holds back a lake with a wall that is thick at the bottom and thin at the top, for a reason that has nothing to do with how long the lake is. A ship of a hundred thousand tonnes floats because it pushes aside a hundred thousand tonnes of water, and sinks a hand’s breadth deeper when it sails from the sea into a river. Every one of these is a consequence of a single relation — pressure increases downward in a fluid at rest at the rate ρg\rho g — and this chapter derives it, applies it to liquids and to the atmosphere, and deduces from it the force on a wall and the law of Archimedes.

A submarine in an emergency surfacing drill (US Navy): its ballast tanks blown, it is lighter than the water it displaces and rises — Archimedes’ theorem at 7000\, t.
A submarine in an emergency surfacing drill (US Navy): its ballast tanks blown, it is lighter than the water it displaces and rises — Archimedes’ theorem at 7000t7000\,\mathrm{t}.

21.1 Pressure in a fluid at rest

Proposition 21.1 (Isotropy of pressure)

In a fluid at rest, the force exerted by the fluid on a small surface  ⁣dS\dd S placed at a point MM is  ⁣dF=P(M) ⁣dSn\dd\vect F = P(M)\,\dd S\,\vect n, normal to the surface and directed toward it, with a pressure P(M)P(M) that depends on the point but not on the orientation of the surface.

Partial proof. A fluid at rest transmits no tangential force (otherwise it would flow): the force is normal. Consider a tiny triangular prism of fluid at MM with faces of different orientations: it is in equilibrium under the pressure forces on its faces and its weight; the weight scales as the volume (third power of the size), the pressure forces as areas (second power), so for a small enough prism only the pressure forces count, and their balance in every direction requires the same PP on every face.

Theorem 21.2 (Fundamental relation of fluid statics)

In a fluid at rest in the uniform gravity g=gez\vect g = -g\vect e_z (zz upward), the pressure depends only on zz and

 ⁣dP ⁣dz=ρg,\frac{\dd P}{\dd z} = -\rho g ,

ρ\rho being the fluid’s density at that level. Pressure increases downward; surfaces of equal pressure (isobars) are horizontal, and so is the free surface of a liquid.

Proof. Take a horizontal slab of fluid of area SS between zz and z+ ⁣dzz + \dd z: it is pushed up by P(z)SP(z)S from below, down by P(z+ ⁣dz)SP(z + \dd z)S from above, and pulled down by its weight ρgS ⁣dz\rho gS\,\dd z. At rest: P(z)SP(z+ ⁣dz)SρgS ⁣dz=0P(z)S - P(z + \dd z)S - \rho gS\,\dd z = 0. Horizontal slabs of fluid have no horizontal force from gravity, so horizontally PP is uniform.

Left: equilibrium of a horizontal slab of fluid — the pressure below must exceed the pressure above by the slab’s weight per unit area. Right: communicating vessels — a horizontal line meets the same pressure everywhere in a connected liquid, so the free surfaces stand at one level whatever the shapes. Left: equilibrium of a horizontal slab of fluid — the pressure below must exceed the pressure above by the slab’s weight per unit area. Right: communicating vessels — a horizontal line meets the same pressure everywhere in a connected liquid, so the free surfaces stand at one level whatever the shapes.
Left: equilibrium of a horizontal slab of fluid — the pressure below must exceed the pressure above by the slab’s weight per unit area. Right: communicating vessels — a horizontal line meets the same pressure everywhere in a connected liquid, so the free surfaces stand at one level whatever the shapes.

Corollary 21.3 (Incompressible fluid)

In a liquid of uniform density ρ\rho, the pressure at depth hh below a point where it is P0P_0 is

P=P0+ρgh.P = P_0 + \rho gh .

Water: 1bar1\,\mathrm{bar} more every 10m10\,\mathrm{m}. Two points of a connected liquid at the same level are at the same pressure; the free surfaces of communicating vessels stand at one level; a pressure applied anywhere to an enclosed liquid is transmitted undiminished to every point (Pascal’s principle).

Proof. Integrate  ⁣dP/ ⁣dz=ρg\dd P/\dd z = -\rho g with ρ\rho constant; the rest is the horizontality of isobars and the uniqueness of PP at a level.

Example 21.4 (Manometers and presses)

A U-tube of mercury (ρ=13600kg/m3\rho = 13\,600\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}) whose columns differ by h=760mmh = 760\,\mathrm{mm} measures a pressure difference ρgh=1.013×105Pa\rho gh = 1.013 \times 10^{5}\,\mathrm{Pa} — the atmosphere, which holds a 10.3m10.3\,\mathrm{m} column of water. A hydraulic press: a force F1F_1 on a piston of area S1S_1 raises the pressure by F1/S1F_1/S_1 throughout; on the large piston S2S_2 it yields F2=F1S2/S1F_2 = F_1S_2/S_1 — fifty times more for fifty times the area, at the price of fifty times less travel (energy is conserved: F1d1=F2d2F_1d_1 = F_2d_2).

21.2 The atmosphere

Proposition 21.5 (Isothermal atmosphere)

For a perfect gas of molar mass MM at uniform temperature TT in uniform gravity,

P(z)=P0ez/H,H=RTMg,P(z) = P_0\,\eu^{-z/H}, \qquad H = \frac{RT}{Mg} ,

the scale height: about 8km8\,\mathrm{km} for air; the pressure halves every Hln25.5kmH\ln2 \approx 5.5\,\mathrm{km}.

Proof. ρ=PM/RT\rho = PM/RT (equation of state), so  ⁣dP/ ⁣dz=(Mg/RT)P\dd P/\dd z = -(Mg/RT)P: a first-order linear equation, P=P0eMgz/RTP = P_0\eu^{-Mgz/RT}.

Example 21.6 (Thin air)

With T=260KT = 260\,\mathrm{K} (an average over the lower atmosphere), H=7.6kmH = 7.6\,\mathrm{km}: P=0.52P0P = 0.52P_0 at 5000m5000\,\mathrm{m}, 0.31P00.31P_0 at the summit of Everest — close to the measured 0.540.54 and 0.330.33; the real atmosphere cools with altitude, which the Year 2 volume takes into account. The model also tells why the sea is different: water is eight hundred times denser and nearly incompressible, so its pressure rises linearly, a bar per ten meters, with no scale height.

The isothermal atmosphere: pressure (and density) fall exponentially with height, halving every 5.5\, km. Nine tenths of the air lies below 17\, km.
The isothermal atmosphere: pressure (and density) fall exponentially with height, halving every 5.5km5.5\,\mathrm{km}. Nine tenths of the air lies below 17km17\,\mathrm{km}.

21.3 Forces on walls

Proposition 21.7 (Force on a vertical wall)

A liquid of depth hh against a vertical rectangular wall of width LL (atmospheric pressure acting on both faces and cancelling) exerts the horizontal force

F=12ρgh2L,F = \tfrac12\rho gh^2L ,

equivalent to a single force applied at the center of pressure, at depth 2h/32h/3 — the resultant acts low, where the pressure is greatest.

Proof. At depth xx the gauge pressure is ρgx\rho gx; on the strip of height  ⁣dx\dd x the force is ρgxL ⁣dx\rho gxL\,\dd x; integrate from 00 to hh. Its moment about the surface line is 0hρgx2L ⁣dx=13ρgh3L\int_0^h\rho gx^2L\,\dd x = \tfrac13\rho gh^3L; dividing by FF gives the lever arm 2h/32h/3.

The pressure on a dam grows linearly with depth (arrows), so the resultant acts at two thirds of the depth: the wall must be thickest at the bottom. The force depends on h and L, not on how much water lies behind.
The pressure on a dam grows linearly with depth (arrows), so the resultant acts at two thirds of the depth: the wall must be thickest at the bottom. The force depends on hh and LL, not on how much water lies behind.

Example 21.8 (A dam)

h=20mh = 20\,\mathrm{m}, L=100mL = 100\,\mathrm{m}: F=12×1000×9.81×400×100=2.0×108NF = \tfrac12 \times 1000 \times 9.81 \times 400 \times 100 = 2.0 \times 10^{8}\,\mathrm{N} — twenty thousand tonnes, applied 13m13\,\mathrm{m} below the surface, the same whether the lake behind is a pond or a fjord: the hydrostatic paradox.

21.4 Archimedes’ theorem

Theorem 21.9 (Archimedes)

A body immersed in a fluid at rest receives from the pressure forces a resultant — the buoyancy — equal and opposite to the weight of the fluid it displaces,

Π=ρfluidVimmersedg,\vect\Pi = -\rho_{\text{fluid}}V_{\text{immersed}}\,\vect g ,

applied at the center of mass of the displaced fluid (the center of buoyancy).

Proof. The pressure forces on the body’s surface depend only on the shape of that surface and on the fluid outside. Replace the body, in thought, by fluid at rest filling the same volume: that fluid is in equilibrium under its weight and the same pressure forces, so the pressure forces balance its weight — they sum to ρVg-\rho V\vect g, applied through its center of mass. Remove the thought experiment; the pressure forces are unchanged.

Corollary 21.10 (Floating)

A body of density ρb\rho_b floats in a fluid of density ρf>ρb\rho_f > \rho_b with the fraction ρb/ρf\rho_b/\rho_f of its volume immersed; if ρb>ρf\rho_b > \rho_f it sinks, with an apparent weight (ρbρf)Vg(\rho_b - \rho_f)Vg.

Proof. Weight ρbVg\rho_bVg equals buoyancy ρfVimmg\rho_fV_{\text{imm}}g.

A floating body: its weight, applied at its center of mass G, balances the buoyancy, applied at the center of buoyancy C (the center of the immersed volume). Ice (= 917\, kg/ m3) in sea water (1025\, kg/ m3): 89\% below the surface.
A floating body: its weight, applied at its center of mass GG, balances the buoyancy, applied at the center of buoyancy CC (the center of the immersed volume). Ice (ρ=917kg/m3\rho = 917\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}) in sea water (1025kg/m31025\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}): 89%89\% below the surface.

Example 21.11 (Three buoyancies)

A hydrometer is a weighted tube that sinks until it displaces its own weight: the denser the liquid, the less it sinks — a density gauge read on its stem. A 2800m32800\,\mathrm{m}^{3} balloon of hot air at 373K373\,\mathrm{K} displaces 3.4t3.4\,\mathrm{t} of cold air and weighs 2.6t2.6\,\mathrm{t} of hot air: 0.7t0.7\,\mathrm{t} of lift (Problem 20.1). A ship of 100000t100\,000\,\mathrm{t} displaces 97600m397\,600\,\mathrm{m}^{3} of sea water; in fresh water (1000kg/m31000\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}) it must displace 2.5%2.5\% more and sinks deeper — the Plimsoll marks on its hull.

Remark 21.12 (Stability)

A floating body tilted by a small angle is restored if the buoyancy, now applied at the shifted center of the new immersed volume, produces a righting moment — which happens when the metacenter (the point where the buoyancy’s line of action meets the body’s axis) lies above GG. Ballast low in the hull lowers GG and steadies the ship; a top-heavy boat capsizes.

21.5 Exercises

Exercise 21.1

Absolute pressure at 10m10\,\mathrm{m}, 100m100\,\mathrm{m} and 1km1\,\mathrm{km} under the sea (ρ=1025kg/m3\rho = 1025\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}); force on a 1.0m21.0\,\mathrm{m}^{2} porthole at 300m300\,\mathrm{m}.

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.1.

P=P0+ρghP = P_0 + \rho gh: 2.0×105Pa2.0 \times 10^{5}\,\mathrm{Pa} (2.0bar2.0\,\mathrm{bar}), 1.1×106Pa1.1 \times 10^{6}\,\mathrm{Pa} (11bar11\,\mathrm{bar}), 1.0×107Pa1.0 \times 10^{7}\,\mathrm{Pa} (101bar101\,\mathrm{bar}). At 300m300\,\mathrm{m}: P=3.1×106PaP = 3.1 \times 10^{6}\,\mathrm{Pa}, force 3.1MN3.1\,\mathrm{MN} on 1m21\,\mathrm{m}^{2} (net, against 1atm1\,\mathrm{atm} inside: 3.0MN3.0\,\mathrm{MN}).

Exercise 21.2

Height of a mercury column balancing 1.013×105Pa1.013 \times 10^{5}\,\mathrm{Pa}; of a water column. Why can a suction pump not lift water more than about 10m10\,\mathrm{m}?

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.2.

h=P/ρgh = P/\rho g: mercury 0.760m0.760\,\mathrm{m}; water 10.3m10.3\,\mathrm{m}. A pump can at best create a vacuum above the water: the atmosphere then pushes the column up by 10.3m10.3\,\mathrm{m}, no more.

Exercise 21.3

A hydraulic jack: 100N100\,\mathrm{N} on a 2.0cm22.0\,\mathrm{cm}^{2} piston, load on a 200cm2200\,\mathrm{cm}^{2} piston; distances moved by each if the small piston travels 20cm20\,\mathrm{cm}.

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.3.

F2=F1S2/S1=10kNF_2 = F_1S_2/S_1 = 10\,\mathrm{kN} (one tonne); d2=d1S1/S2=2.0mmd_2 = d_1S_1/S_2 = 2.0\,\mathrm{mm} (same volume displaced, same work).

Exercise 21.4

A U-tube contains water; oil (ρ=850kg/m3\rho = 850\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}) is poured into one arm and forms a 12cm12\,\mathrm{cm} column. Height difference between the two free surfaces.

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.4.

Same pressure at the oil–water interface level in both arms: ρogho=ρwghw\rho_og h_o = \rho_wgh_w, hw=0.85×12=10.2cmh_w = 0.85 \times 12 = 10.2\,\mathrm{cm} of water above that level in the other arm; the oil surface stands 1210.2=1.8cm12 - 10.2 = 1.8\,\mathrm{cm} higher.

Exercise 21.5 ★★

Scale height of the atmosphere at 273K273\,\mathrm{K}; pressure at 5000m5000\,\mathrm{m} and at 8848m8848\,\mathrm{m}; height at which P=P0/2P = P_0/2. Compare with the values quoted in Chapter 20.

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.5.

H=RT/Mg=8.314×273/(0.029×9.81)=8.0kmH = RT/Mg = 8.314 \times 273/(0.029 \times 9.81) = 8.0\,\mathrm{km}; P/P0=ez/HP/P_0 = \eu^{-z/H}: 0.540.54 at 5km5\,\mathrm{km}, 0.330.33 at 8848m8848\,\mathrm{m}; half at Hln2=5.5kmH\ln2 = 5.5\,\mathrm{km} — the numbers used in Chapter 20.

Exercise 21.6 ★★

A rectangular dam 100m100\,\mathrm{m} wide holds 20m20\,\mathrm{m} of water. Total force, depth of the center of pressure, and the moment of the water about the base of the dam. Why is a dam curved toward the water?

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.6.

F=12ρgh2L=1.96×108NF = \tfrac12\rho gh^2L = 1.96 \times 10^{8}\,\mathrm{N}; center of pressure at 13.3m13.3\,\mathrm{m} depth, i.e. 6.7m6.7\,\mathrm{m} above the base; moment about the base F×6.7=1.3×109NmF \times 6.7 = 1.3 \times 10^{9}\,\mathrm{N}\,\mathrm{m}. Curving the dam toward the water turns the thrust into compression of the arch, carried to the valley sides.

Exercise 21.7 ★★

Fraction of an iceberg below the surface (ice 917kg/m3917\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}, sea water 1025kg/m31025\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}); of a log of density 600kg/m3600\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3} in fresh water; a raft of 2.0m32.0\,\mathrm{m}^{3} of that wood can carry how many 75kg75\,\mathrm{kg} people before its deck is awash?

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.7.

917/1025=89%917/1025 = 89\%; log 60%60\%. Raft: buoyancy at full immersion 1000×2.0×9.81=19.6kN1000 \times 2.0 \times 9.81 = 19.6\,\mathrm{kN}, own weight 11.8kN11.8\,\mathrm{kN}: 7.8kN7.8\,\mathrm{kN} spare, ten people… the tenth with wet feet: nine to stay dry (800kg800\,\mathrm{kg}).

Exercise 21.8 ★★

A hydrometer of mass 20g20\,\mathrm{g} with a stem of cross-section 0.50cm20.50\,\mathrm{cm}^{2} floats in water with 4.0cm4.0\,\mathrm{cm} of stem emerging. How much stem emerges in brine of density 1100kg/m31100\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}? Sensitivity (cm per unit of relative density)?

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.8.

Immersed volume m/ρm/\rho: water 20cm320\,\mathrm{cm}^{3}; brine 20/1.1=18.2cm320/1.1 = 18.2\,\mathrm{cm}^{3}, 1.8cm31.8\,\mathrm{cm}^{3} less, i.e. 1.8/0.50=3.6cm1.8/0.50 = 3.6\,\mathrm{cm} more stem: 7.6cm7.6\,\mathrm{cm} emerge. Sensitivity m/(ρ2S)40cm\approx m/(\rho^2S) \approx 40\,\mathrm{cm} per unit of relative density (3.6cm3.6\,\mathrm{cm} per 0.10.1).

Exercise 21.9 ★★

A submarine of volume 3000m33000\,\mathrm{m}^{3} has a mass of 2800t2800\,\mathrm{t} with empty ballast tanks. Fraction emerging at the surface (sea water); mass of water to take in for neutral buoyancy; what if it then enters a fresh-water estuary?

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.9.

Displaced volume 2800/1.025=2732m32800/1.025 = 2732\,\mathrm{m}^{3}: 268m3268\,\mathrm{m}^{3} (9%9\%) emerge. Neutral: mass 1025×3000=3075t1025 \times 3000 = 3075\,\mathrm{t}: take in 275t275\,\mathrm{t}. Fresh water: buoyancy drops to 3000t3000\,\mathrm{t}: 75t75\,\mathrm{t} heavy — it sinks unless 75t75\,\mathrm{t} are pumped out.

Exercise 21.10 ★★★

A child’s balloon holds 10L10\,\mathrm{L} of helium (M=4g/molM = 4\,\mathrm{g}/\mathrm{mol}) at 1bar1\,\mathrm{bar} and 293K293\,\mathrm{K}; the rubber weighs 3.0g3.0\,\mathrm{g}. Net lift; mass of string it can carry.

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.10.

Air displaced: 102×1.20=12.0g10^{-2} \times 1.20 = 12.0\,\mathrm{g}; helium inside 12.0×4/29=1.7g12.0 \times 4/29 = 1.7\,\mathrm{g}; rubber 3.0g3.0\,\mathrm{g}: net lift 7.3g7.3\,\mathrm{g} — seven meters of light string.

Exercise 21.11 ★★★

Prove that the center of pressure on a vertical rectangular wall is at 2h/32h/3 by computing the moment of the pressure forces about the surface line. Where is it for a wall that is only partly submerged, say from depth h1h_1 to h2h_2?

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.11.

Moment 0hρgxxL ⁣dx=ρgLh3/3\int_0^h\rho gx\cdot xL\,\dd x = \rho gLh^3/3, force ρgLh2/2\rho gLh^2/2: arm 2h/32h/3. From h1h_1 to h2h_2: moment ρgL(h23h13)/3\rho gL(h_2^3 - h_1^3)/3, force ρgL(h22h12)/2\rho gL(h_2^2 - h_1^2)/2: depth 23(h23h13)/(h22h12)\frac23(h_2^3 - h_1^3)/(h_2^2 - h_1^2).

Exercise 21.12 ★★★

A cylindrical hydrometer (mass mm, cross-section SS) floating in a liquid of density ρ\rho is pushed down by xx and released. Show that it oscillates harmonically and give the period; compute it for m=20gm = 20\,\mathrm{g}, S=0.50cm2S = 0.50\,\mathrm{cm}^{2}, water. (Example 14.3 revisited.)

Solution

Solution of Exercise 21.12.

Extra immersion xx adds the buoyancy ρgSx\rho gSx upward: mx¨=ρgSxm\ddot x = -\rho gSx, ω02=ρgS/m\omega_0^2 = \rho gS/m, T=2πm/ρgS=2π0.020/(1000×9.81×5×105)=1.3sT = 2\pi\sqrt{m/\rho gS} = 2\pi\sqrt{0.020/(1000 \times 9.81 \times 5\times10^{-5})} = 1.3\,\mathrm{s}.

Inflating a hot-air balloon: heated air is less dense than the cold air around it, and Archimedes’ thrust on the envelope exceeds its weight.
Inflating a hot-air balloon: heated air is less dense than the cold air around it, and Archimedes’ thrust on the envelope exceeds its weight.

21.6 Problem: The submarine

Problem 21.1

Weekend problem — a steel hull three hundred meters down: the pressure on its plates, the water it must swallow to sink and spit out to rise, the diver who leaves it, and the tanker that passes overhead

Sea water: ρ=1025kg/m3\rho = 1025\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}; fresh water 1000kg/m31000\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}; P0=1.013×105PaP_0 = 1.013 \times 10^{5}\,\mathrm{Pa}; g=9.81m/s2g = 9.81\,\mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}^{2}. The submarine’s hull encloses V=3000m3V = 3000\,\mathrm{m}^{3}; with empty ballast tanks its mass is m0=2800tm_0 = 2800\,\mathrm{t}.

Part I — Pressure on the hull.

  1. Absolute pressure at 300m300\,\mathrm{m}, in pascals and in bars.
  2. Force on a circular hatch of diameter 0.80m0.80\,\mathrm{m} at that depth; compare with the weight of a truck.
  3. Force on one square meter of hull at the keel if the hull is 10m10\,\mathrm{m} tall and the top is at 300m300\,\mathrm{m}: how different from the top?
  4. Water is slightly compressible (χT=4.6×1010Pa1\chi_T = 4.6 \times 10^{-10}\,\mathrm{Pa}^{-1}): by what fraction is sea water denser at 300m300\,\mathrm{m} than at the surface? Does it matter for the pressure computed above?
  5. The crew inside breathes air at 1atm1\,\mathrm{atm}: why does the hull need to be a thick cylinder, and why does a cylinder resist better than a flat box?
  6. A thin cylindrical shell of radius RR and wall thickness ee under an external overpressure ΔP\Delta P carries a compressive stress ΔPR/e\Delta P\,R/e in its wall. For R=5.0mR = 5.0\,\mathrm{m} and e=3.0cme = 3.0\,\mathrm{cm} at 300m300\,\mathrm{m}, compute it and compare with the yield stress of the steel, about 600MPa600\,\mathrm{MPa}.

Part II — Sinking and floating.

  1. At the surface with empty tanks, what volume of the hull emerges?
  2. What mass of sea water must the ballast tanks take in for the submarine to hover (neutral buoyancy)?
  3. Once neutrally buoyant at 300m300\,\mathrm{m}, the hull is compressed by 0.1%0.1\% by the pressure. Compute the resulting net force and say whether the equilibrium is stable with respect to depth.
  4. The boat sails neutrally buoyant from the sea into a fresh-water estuary. Net force? Which way does it go, and what must the crew do?
  5. A 20t20\,\mathrm{t} torpedo is fired. What must the ballast system do immediately, and by how much?
  6. Why does a submarine use compressed air to empty its tanks, and why is the air’s pressure the limit on how deep it can blow them?
  7. Estimate the volume of air at 1atm1\,\mathrm{atm} needed to empty 275m3275\,\mathrm{m}^{3} of tanks at 300m300\,\mathrm{m} (Boyle’s law, PVPV constant).

Part III — The diver. A diver leaves the surface with 6.0L6.0\,\mathrm{L} of air in her lungs.

  1. Absolute pressure at 10m10\,\mathrm{m} and 30m30\,\mathrm{m}.
  2. If she descends holding her breath, what is her lung volume at 30m30\,\mathrm{m}?
  3. A scuba diver breathes air at the ambient pressure at 30m30\,\mathrm{m} and ascends while holding her breath: volume her lungs would need at the surface, and the lesson.
  4. A snorkel 1.0m1.0\,\mathrm{m} long: pressure difference between the water on the diver’s chest and the air in her lungs; force on a chest of 0.05m20.05\,\mathrm{m}^{2}; can she inhale?
  5. The air tank holds 12L12\,\mathrm{L} at 200bar200\,\mathrm{bar}: how many liters of air at 30m30\,\mathrm{m} does that make, and for how long at 20L20\,\mathrm{L} per minute?

Part IV — The tanker overhead.

  1. A tanker of 100000t100\,000\,\mathrm{t} floats in sea water: volume of water displaced.
  2. Its waterline area is 8000m28000\,\mathrm{m}^{2}: by how much does it rise or sink when it enters fresh water?
  3. Loading 10000t10\,000\,\mathrm{t} of oil: change of draught.
  4. The empty tanker has a high center of mass; it carries sea water as ballast when empty. Why, in terms of the metacenter?
  5. The tanker’s hull at its keel (20m20\,\mathrm{m} draught): pressure and force per square meter, compared with the submarine at 300m300\,\mathrm{m}.
  6. The tanker passes directly over the submarine. Does the submarine feel its 100000t100\,000\,\mathrm{t}? Explain with the pressure field.
  7. Summarize: the one relation that fixed every number in this problem, and the theorem that followed from it.
Solution

Solution of Problem 21.1.

1. P=1.013×105+1025×9.81×300=3.12×106Pa=31barP = 1.013\times10^5 + 1025 \times 9.81 \times 300 = 3.12 \times 10^{6}\,\mathrm{Pa} = 31\,\mathrm{bar}.

2. S=π(0.40)2=0.503m2S = \pi(0.40)^2 = 0.503\,\mathrm{m}^{2}: net force (PP0)S=1.52×106N(P - P_0)S = 1.52 \times 10^{6}\,\mathrm{N} — 155 tonnes, a loaded truck on a hatch.

3. Keel 10m10\,\mathrm{m} deeper: +ρg×10=1.0×105Pa+\rho g \times 10 = 1.0 \times 10^{5}\,\mathrm{Pa} more, 3%3\%: the hull is loaded almost uniformly.

4. Δρ/ρ=χTΔP=4.6×1010×3.0×106=0.14%\Delta\rho/\rho = \chi_T\Delta P = 4.6\times10^{-10} \times 3.0\times10^6 = 0.14\%: negligible for the pressure (a few kilopascals out of three million).

5. Thirty bars outside, one inside: the hull is a pressure vessel loaded inward; a cylinder (or sphere) turns the pressure into compression along its wall, which steel resists well, whereas a flat plate would bend.

6. ΔPR/e=3.0×106×5.0/0.030=5.0×108Pa=500MPa\Delta P\,R/e = 3.0\times10^6 \times 5.0/0.030 = 5.0 \times 10^{8}\,\mathrm{Pa} = 500\,\mathrm{MPa}: close to the yield stress — 300m300\,\mathrm{m} is near the limit for this hull, and deeper boats need thicker or stronger steel (or titanium).

7. Displaced volume m0/ρ=2800/1.025=2732m3m_0/\rho = 2800/1.025 = 2732\,\mathrm{m}^{3}: 268m3268\,\mathrm{m}^{3} emerge (9%9\%).

8. Neutral: m=ρV=3075tm = \rho V = 3075\,\mathrm{t}: take in 275t275\,\mathrm{t}.

9. Buoyancy falls by 0.1%0.1\% of ρVg\rho Vg: 0.001×3075×9.81×103=30kN0.001 \times 3075 \times 9.81 \times10^3 = 30\,\mathrm{kN} downward (three tonnes). Deeper \Rightarrow more compression \Rightarrow heavier: unstable — a submarine must trim continuously (and a steel hull compresses less than water, which helps; a too-flexible hull would sink without return).

10. Buoyancy 1000×3000×9.81=29.4MN1000 \times 3000 \times 9.81 = 29.4\,\mathrm{MN} against weight 3075×9.81×103=30.2MN3075 \times 9.81 \times 10^3 = 30.2\,\mathrm{MN}: 0.74MN0.74\,\mathrm{MN} down (75t75\,\mathrm{t}); pump out 75t75\,\mathrm{t}.

11. Immediately 20t20\,\mathrm{t} light: take in 20t20\,\mathrm{t} of water (19.5m319.5\,\mathrm{m}^{3}) into compensating tanks.

12. Water can only be expelled by something at higher pressure than the sea outside; compressed air in bottles pushes it out — only as long as the bottle pressure exceeds the ambient pressure at that depth.

13. PVPV constant: 275m3275\,\mathrm{m}^{3} at 31bar31\,\mathrm{bar} needs 275×31=8500m3275 \times 31 = 8500\,\mathrm{m}^{3} of air at 1atm1\,\mathrm{atm} — stored at 200bar200\,\mathrm{bar} in 43m343\,\mathrm{m}^{3} of bottles.

14. 2.0bar2.0\,\mathrm{bar} at 10m10\,\mathrm{m}; 4.0bar4.0\,\mathrm{bar} at 30m30\,\mathrm{m}.

15. PVPV constant: 6.0/4.0=1.5L6.0/4.0 = 1.5\,\mathrm{L} — the ribcage is crushed in; free divers feel it.

16. Air taken at 4bar4\,\mathrm{bar} expands fourfold: 24L24\,\mathrm{L} in lungs that hold 6L6\,\mathrm{L}: rupture. Never hold your breath on ascent; exhale continuously.

17. ΔP=ρg×1.0=1.0×104Pa\Delta P = \rho g \times 1.0 = 1.0 \times 10^{4}\,\mathrm{Pa}; force 1.0×104Pa×0.05=500N1.0 \times 10^{4}\,\mathrm{Pa} \times 0.05 = 500\,\mathrm{N} on the chest: the breathing muscles cannot lift fifty kilograms — a snorkel works only in the first decimeters.

18. 12×200=2400L12 \times 200 = 2400\,\mathrm{L} at 1bar1\,\mathrm{bar}, i.e. 600L600\,\mathrm{L} at 4bar4\,\mathrm{bar}: 30min30\,\mathrm{min}.

19. V=108/1025=97600m3V = 10^8/1025 = 97\,600\,\mathrm{m}^{3}.

20. In fresh water it must displace 105 m310^5\ \mathrm{m}^{3}: 2400m32400\,\mathrm{m}^{3} more, i.e. 2400/8000=0.30m2400/8000 = 0.30\,\mathrm{m} deeper.

21. 104/1.025=9756m310^4/1.025 = 9756\,\mathrm{m}^{3} more: 1.2m1.2\,\mathrm{m} deeper.

22. Empty, the ship’s GG sits high and little hull is immersed: the metacenter may fall below GG and the ship capsize in a swell. Sea water low in the hull lowers GG and deepens the draught.

23. ρgh=2.0×105Pa\rho gh = 2.0 \times 10^{5}\,\mathrm{Pa}, 0.2MN/m20.2\,\mathrm{MN}/\mathrm{m}^{2}: fifteen times less than the submarine’s 3MN/m23\,\mathrm{MN}/\mathrm{m}^{2}.

24. No: the pressure at the submarine’s depth is P0+ρghP_0 + \rho gh, fixed by the depth alone. The tanker’s weight is borne by the water it displaces, which raises the sea level everywhere by an immeasurable amount; no extra load reaches the submarine.

25.  ⁣dP/ ⁣dz=ρg\dd P/\dd z = -\rho g — hence P=P0+ρghP = P_0 + \rho gh for every depth, force and lung volume here — and Archimedes’ theorem, which is that relation integrated over a closed surface.