Call Now to Set Up Tutoring:

(888) 888-0446

MCAT Physical : Pressure

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical

Create An Account

All MCAT Physical Resources

8 Diagnostic Tests 303 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Pressure

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:

13.2m

7.6cm

8.3m

4.2m

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, $h = 13.2 m$

Report an Error

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.

Report an Error

Example Question #91 : Ap Physics 2

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:

45.6kPa

41.9kPa

53.8kPa

34.2kPa

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

Report an Error

Example Question #1 : Pressure

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:

10:1

50:3

25:3

1:10

2:1

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.

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

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

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

Report an Error

View MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Tutors

Abdelhalim
Certified Tutor

Northwestern University, Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience.

View MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Tutors

Yongmao
Certified Tutor

Nankai University, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry. Washington University in St Louis, Doctor of Philosophy, Organic Chemistry.

View MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Tutors

Erik Weijie
Certified Tutor

University of Florida, Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering.

All MCAT Physical Resources

8 Diagnostic Tests 303 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Popular Subjects

Spanish Tutors in Dallas Fort Worth, Spanish Tutors in Los Angeles, English Tutors in Dallas Fort Worth, GRE Tutors in Los Angeles, Computer Science Tutors in San Francisco-Bay Area, ISEE Tutors in San Francisco-Bay Area, French Tutors in Seattle, French Tutors in Boston, ACT Tutors in San Diego, GRE Tutors in Houston

Popular Courses & Classes

Spanish Courses & Classes in Houston, GMAT Courses & Classes in Dallas Fort Worth, LSAT Courses & Classes in Houston, GMAT Courses & Classes in Denver, SAT Courses & Classes in Atlanta, ISEE Courses & Classes in Chicago, SSAT Courses & Classes in Miami, ACT Courses & Classes in Miami, GMAT Courses & Classes in San Diego, SAT Courses & Classes in Boston

Popular Test Prep

MCAT Test Prep in Washington DC, ISEE Test Prep in San Diego, MCAT Test Prep in Chicago, ISEE Test Prep in Seattle, LSAT Test Prep in San Diego, ISEE Test Prep in Dallas Fort Worth, MCAT Test Prep in Los Angeles, GMAT Test Prep in Dallas Fort Worth, MCAT Test Prep in Philadelphia, GMAT Test Prep in San Diego

DMCA Complaint

If you believe that content available by means of the Website (as defined in our Terms of Service) infringes one or more of your copyrights, please notify us by providing a written notice (“Infringement Notice”) containing the information described below to the designated agent listed below. If Varsity Tutors takes action in response to an Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to Varsity Tutors.

Your Infringement Notice may be forwarded to the party that made the content available or to third parties such as ChillingEffects.org.

Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located on or linked-to by the Website infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.

Please follow these steps to file a notice:

You must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf; An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed; A description of the nature and exact location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in \ sufficient detail to permit Varsity Tutors to find and positively identify that content; for example we require a link to the specific question (not just the name of the question) that contains the content and a description of which specific portion of the question – an image, a link, the text, etc – your complaint refers to; Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and A statement by you: (a) that you believe in good faith that the use of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; (b) that all of the information contained in your Infringement Notice is accurate, and (c) under penalty of perjury, that you are either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

Send your complaint to our designated agent at:

Charles Cohn Varsity Tutors LLC
101 S. Hanley Rd, Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63105

Or fill out the form below:

Do not fill in this field

Contact Information

* Full legal name

Company name

* Phone number

* Email address

Address

* Address1

Address2

* City

* State

* Zipcode

* Country

Complaint Details

* URL of copyrighted work (where your original material is located)

* Please describe the copyrighted work so that it may be easily identified

I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

This notification is accurate.

I acknowledge that there may be adverse legal consequences for making false or bad faith allegations of copyright infringement by using this process.

* Signature (your digital signature is legally binding)

HIGH SCHOOL

GRADUATE SCHOOL

K-8

Search 50+ Tests

math tutoring

science tutoring

foreign languages

elementary tutoring

other

Search 350+ Subjects

MCAT Physical : Pressure

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical

All MCAT Physical Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Pressure

Example Question #1 : Pressure

Example Question #91 : Ap Physics 2

Example Question #1 : Pressure

All MCAT Physical Resources

Report an issue with this question

DMCA Complaint

Contact Information

Address

Complaint Details

Email address:
Your name:
Feedback: