1.

Water of depth 10 m exerts a pressure equal to atmospheric

pressure. An air bubble rises to the surface of the lake which is 20 m
deep. When the bubble reaches the surface, its volume is 6 cm3.
Calculate
(a) the pressure at the bottom of the lake
(b) the volume of the air bubble at the bottom of the lake.
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Answer
2. Two barometers are set up below using identical tubes of uniform
cross-sectional area at sea level.
(a) Given that the empty space above the mercury column in
barometer P is a vacuum, state the atmospheric pressure as
measured by this barometer in mmHg.
(b) What is the pressure at point E? Give your answer in mm Hg and
show essential working on how you arrive at your answer.
(c) If barometer P is brought up to the mountains, what do you
expect to the column of vacuum in P? Give a reason for that.
(d) Suggest a possible reason why barometer Q gives a shorter
mercury column compared to P.
(e) Calculate the pressure in the empty space above the mercury
column in barometer Q.
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3. A gas pipe is connected to two mercury manometers as shown.
The two manometers contain the same amount of mercury, except
that the diameter of the right-hand tube in manometer B is double
that of the right-hand tube in manometer A.

(a) Determine the liquid level difference in manometer B.

(b) Is the gas pressure smaller or greater than the atmospheric
pressure?
(c) Calculate the excess pressure of the gas supply in Pascal.
(Density of mercury = 13 600 kgm-3, atmospheric pressure = 76

cmHg)
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4. A uniform capillary tube, closed at one end, contained air which is
trapped by a thread of mercury 85 mm long. When the tube was
held vertically with the closed end downwards, the length was 45
mm.

(a) Calculate the pressure of the air in Pa given that the atmospheric
pressure is 760 mmHg. Take the density of mercury to be 13600
kgm3
(b) The tube is now slowly rotated 90o as shown in second Figure.

Assuming that there is no change in temperature, state whether the

length L will remain as 45 mm, longer than 45 mm or shorter than
45 mm. Explain your answer
(a) Since the empty space above the mercury column is a vacuum,
the pressure there is 0Pa.
So, Patm = pressure due to mercury column
= 1000 - 250 = 750 mm Hg
(b) Recall that When finding pressure at point E, the height is from
the top surface to point E, not from the surface of trough of mercury
to point E.
pressure = 1000 - 250 - 400 = 350 mmHg
(c) At the mountain, the atomspheric pressure is lower thus the
mercury column is shorter, and thus column of vacuum is longer.
(d) Analysis:
To have a shorter liquid column, we can replace the mercury with a
liquid with higher density as P = pgh. However, in this case, the
liquid is still mercury. Thus we have to think about other alternative.
In order to have a shorter mercury column, the empty space above
the mercury column cannot be vacuum. It has to be air which
contributes some pressure, and hence creates a lower pressure
difference and thus shorter mercury column.
Answer:
The empty space above the mercury column is air.
(e) Patm = pressure due to mercury column + Pair
750 = (1000 - 280) + Pair
Pair = 30 mmHg
(a) Since the empty space above the mercury column is a vacuum,
the pressure there is 0Pa.
So, Patm = pressure due to mercury column
= 1000 - 250 = 750 mm Hg
(b) Recall that When finding pressure at point E, the height is from
the top surface to point E, not from the surface of trough of mercury
to point E.
pressure = 1000 - 250 - 400 = 350 mmHg
(c) At the mountain, the atomspheric pressure is lower thus the
mercury column is shorter, and thus column of vacuum is longer.
(d) Analysis:
To have a shorter liquid column, we can replace the mercury with a
liquid with higher density as P = pgh. However, in this case, the
liquid is still mercury. Thus we have to think about other alternative.
In order to have a shorter mercury column, the empty space above
the mercury column cannot be vacuum. It has to be air which
contributes some pressure, and hence creates a lower pressure
difference and thus shorter mercury column.

Answer:
The empty space above the mercury column is air.
(e) Patm = pressure due to mercury column + Pair
750 = (1000 - 280) + Pair
Pair = 30 mmHg (a) Analysis:
Remember that liquid level difference in manomater depends on the
pressure difference. Since the pressure difference between two arms
in B is same as the pressure difference between two arms in A, thus
the liquid level difference is the same as manometer A.
Answer:
Liquid level difference = 30 cm
(b) Analysis:
To determine which arm has a higher pressure, we have to look at
the liquid level on each arm. The higher the liquid level, the lower
the pressure is.
Answer:
Since the liquid level on left arm is lower than that on the right arm,
the gas supply has a higher pressure than atomspheric pressure.
(c) Analysis:
Remember that the liquid level difference contributes to the
pressure difference (excess pressure).
excess pressure = 13600 * 10 * 0.3
= 40800 Pa
(a) Pair = Patm + pressure due to 85mm of mercury
= 760 +
85
= 845 mmHg
= 0.845 * 13600 * 10
=1.15
* 105 Pa Comment: We cannot assume atomspheric pressure is 1.01
* 105 Pa. We have to use the value given in the question. (b)
Initially, the pressure of air is greater than the atmospheric
pressure, thus the mercury column will move out until the pressure
due to air is same as the atmospheric pressure. Thus, the length L
will be longer than 45 mm. -