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MCAT Physical : Pressure

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Fluids And Gases

Ethanol has a specific gravity of 0.780. If a long barometer tube is placed in a dish of ethanol, with the top end open to the atmosphere, to what height in the tube will the ethanol rise?

Atmospheric pressure = 1.01 * 10⁵Pa

g = 9.81 m/s²

Density of water = 1000 kg/m³)

Possible Answers:

8.3m

4.2m

13.2m

7.6cm

12.6cm

Correct answer:

13.2m

Explanation:

The pressure exerted by the air on the top of the ethanol must equal the fluid pressure in the column of liquid at equilibrium. Fluid pressure is the product of density, gravity, and height of the fluid.

$P_{atm} = \rho_{ethanol} gh$

The density of ethanol, $\rho_{ethanol}$ , may be calculated by multiplying specific gravity times the reference density of water, as specific gravity is simply a ratio of a compound's density to that of water.

$\rho_{ethanol} = 0.780*1000\frac{kg}{m^{3}}=780\frac{kg}{m^{3}}$

Using this density in the pressure equation allows us to solve for the height of the ethanol.

$1.01 * 10^{5} Pa = \left ( 780\frac{kg}{m^{3}} \right )\left ( 9.81\frac{m}{s^{2}} \right )h$

After calculating, $h = 13.2 m$

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Example Question #1 : Pressure

A diver in a lake rises from 35m deep, where the gauge pressure reads 2atm , to the surface, where the gauge pressure reads 0atm . Upon reaching the surface, by what percent has the pressure experienced by the diver changed?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When the diver is submerged, the pressure experienced is the sum of the gauge pressure and the atmospheric pressure above the surface.

$P_{35m} = P_{atm} + P_{gauge}=1atm+2atm=3atm$

At the surface, the gauge pressure will be zero.

$P_{surface} = P_{atm} + P_{gauge}=1atm+0atm=1atm$

The percent change in pressure will be equal to the ratio of the change in pressure to the pressure while submerged.

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Example Question #21 : Fluids And Gases

A tank is filled to a depth of $\small 3.27m$ with water. Oil with a density of $\small 800\frac{kg}{m^3}$ is added to the tank until the final depth is $\small 5.0m$ . What is the reading of the pressure gauge at the bottom of the tank?

Ignore the contribution of atmospheric pressure.

Possible Answers:

34.2kPa

53.8kPa

45.6kPa

41.9kPa

497Pa

Correct answer:

45.6kPa

Explanation:

The pressure contribution of the liquid can be found using the equation:

$P=SG*h=\rho g*h$

The product of the density, gravity, and height of the column of liquid will give the pressure. Start by calculating the pressure of the water.

$P_{water}=(1000\frac{kg}{m^3})(9.8\frac{m}{s^2})(3.27m)=32046Pa$

Then calculate the pressure of the oil.

$P_{oil}=(800\frac{kg}{m^3})(9.8\frac{m}{s^2})(5.0m-3.27m)$

$P_{oil}=(800\frac{kg}{m^3})(9.8\frac{m}{s^2})(1.73m)=13563Pa$

Sum the pressure of each liquid to find the total pressure at the bottom of the tank.

32046Pa+13563Pa=45609Pa=45.6kPa

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Example Question #24 : Fluids And Gases

Two coins lie at the bottom of a pool with an uneven bottom. One is under $\small 5m$ of the water, and the second is under $\small 0.5m$ of water. What is the approximate ratio of total pressure experienced by the first coin to total pressure experienced by the second?

Possible Answers:

2:1

1:10

10:1

25:3

50:3

Correct answer:

25:3

Explanation:

$P_{total} = P_{atm} + P_{gauge} = P_{atm} + (\rho_{water})gh$

Atmospheric pressure always equals $\small 1atm$ on earth, assuming normal elevation.

Gauge pressure always equals $\small \rho gh$ , where $\small \rho$ is the density of the medium, $\small g$ is gravity, and $\small h$ is the distance to the surface.

$P_1=1atm+(1\frac{g}{mL})(9.8\frac{m}{s^2})(5m)=50atm$

$P_2=1atm+(1\frac{g}{mL})(9.8\frac{m}{s^2})(0.5m)=5.9atm$

$P_1:P_2\rightarrow 50:5.9\approx 25:3$

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MCAT Physical : Pressure

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical

All MCAT Physical Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Fluids And Gases

Example Question #1 : Pressure

Example Question #21 : Fluids And Gases

Example Question #24 : Fluids And Gases

All MCAT Physical Resources

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