Answer:
Explanation:
1) The hydrostatic pressure (pressure of a column of fluid) is equal to:
Where:
2) Using subscript 1 for water and subscript 2 for mercury, the hydrostatic equations for both water and mercury will be:
3) For water and mercury columns be in equilibrium P₁ = P₂; and you get:
⇒ ρ₁h₁ = ρ₂h₂
⇒ h₁ = ρ₂h₂ / ρ₁
⇒ h₁ = h₂ (ρ₂ /ρ₁ )
it is given that the density of water is approximately 1/13.5 the density of mercury, which is ρ₁ /ρ₂ = 1 / 13.5. Hence, ρ₂ /ρ₁ = 13.5 / 1
⇒ h₂ = h₁ ( 13.5 / 1)
4) At sea level, the atmospheric pressure is 1 atm or 760 mmHg, which means that the height of a colum of mercury is 760 mmHg.
So, you calculate the height maintained by a column of water inverted in a dish of water at sea level would be:
Using 3 significant figures that is 10,300 mm or 10.3 meter.
Then, you can tell that the atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg) would be capable of mantaining a column of water 10.3 meters in height.
