A tall, narrow, transparent column is partially filled with two immiscible,…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Mechanical Properties of Fluids · Mechanical Properties of Fluids
Problem
A tall, narrow, transparent column is partially filled with two immiscible, incompressible liquids. A layer of alcohol (density 7.9×102kgm−3) of thickness 0.15m floats uniformly on top of a layer of glycerin (density 1.26×103kgm−3) of thickness 0.10m. Atmospheric pressure at the exposed alcohol surface is 1.01×105Pa.
(a) Describe qualitatively how the pressure changes with depth as one moves from the free alcohol surface downward to the bottom of the glycerin layer. In your answer, compare the rate of change of pressure in the alcohol to that in the glycerin.
(b) On axes whose vertical axis represents pressure and whose horizontal axis represents depth (measured downward), sketch a pressure–depth graph for the entire liquid column. Clearly label the alcohol–air interface, the alcohol–glycerin interface, and the glycerin–container interface.
(c) On the graph you drew in part (b), indicate (i) one point that represents an absolute pressure and (ii) one point that represents a gauge pressure. Explain how you determined which was which.