Two pistons are connected by a U-tube

PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Mechanical Properties of Fluids · Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Problem

Two pistons are connected by a U-tube. Both pistons are at the same horizontal level. The left arm (under the small piston) contains water while the right arm (under the large piston) has a 0.25 m0.25\,\text{m} vertical column of mercury floating on water just below the large piston. The small piston has area 2 cm22\,\text{cm}^2, the large piston 200 cm2200\,\text{cm}^2. If a 20 000 N20\,000\,\text{N} load rests on the large piston, what minimum force must be applied on the small piston? (Densities: water =1000 kg m−3= 1000\,\text{kg\,m}^{-3}, mercury =13 600 kg m−3= 13\,600\,\text{kg\,m}^{-3}; g=9.8 m s−2g = 9.8\,\text{m\,s}^{-2}.) (a) 193 N193\,\text{N} (b) 2 067 N2\,067\,\text{N} (c) 206 N206\,\text{N} (d) 200 N200\,\text{N}

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