U-Tube!

Joe pours liquid X X (in dark blue) into the left arm of a U-tube that already contains liquid Y Y (in light blue). The density of liquid X X is less than that of liquid Y , Y, and the two liquids are immiscible.

Which of the following represents the correct situation for the two liquids in the U-tube?

A B C D

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4 solutions

Uros Stojkovic
Aug 21, 2017

Correct solution is B \boxed{\text {Correct solution is B}} .

Solution involving physics :

Equilibrium will be reached once hydrostatic pressures on both sides become equal:

p 1 = p 2 ρ X g h 1 = ρ Y g h 2 \begin{array}{ccccc} &&& p_{1}=p_{2} \\ &&& \rho _{X}gh_{1}=\rho _{Y}gh_{2} \end{array}

From here we can already see that if ρ X < ρ Y \rho _{X}<\rho _{Y} , then must be h 1 > h 2 h_{1}>h_{2} . More precisely:

h 1 h 2 = ρ Y ρ X \frac{h_{1}}{h_{2}}=\frac{\rho _{Y}}{\rho _{X}}

This corresponds to picture B B .

Solution by intuition :

Level of liquid in two arms is the same only when the pressure on both arms is equal.

A A can't be because the level of Y Y liquid didn't change at all. That suggests that liquid X X presses liquid Y Y with the same force as air implying that it has the same density as air. Unless liquid X X is a super-light liquid, this is certainly not possible.

C C shows two arms have the same level, which suggest that they are the same liquids with same densities. Again, not true.

D D shows lower level in left than in the right arm. That implies that the portion of liquid X X presses harder than the same portion of the liquid Y Y . That's a contradiction because something with lower density (and automatically less mass given some constant volume) cannot press harder than something with greater density.

B B is the only reasonable choice. Pouring liquid X X in one arm will certainly make liquid in the other arm go up, but it will always have lower level than the arm where X X is poured.

The picture shown above was NOT the picture in "B". The picture that was in "B" when I answered the question is now picture "C". Someone has been moving the pictures around, and revising the level of precision in the images! I agree that NOW picture "B" is correct. However, in its absence "A" was the only "possible" image with not being able to precisely determine length scales. It was the only one that showed h1 greater than h2.

Eric Roberts - 3 years, 9 months ago

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The original picture drawn was having a very small difference in levels of water and it wasn't sufficient to determine the correct answer. However, the images are now fixed.

Rohit Gupta - 3 years, 9 months ago

A doesn't imply that X is massless, only that it is the same density as the air above it. Am I wrong about this?

Kevin Weatherwalks - 3 years, 9 months ago

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No, you are not wrong. I just assumed that we neglect air as force that presses liquids because it wasn't so important for our calculation and reasoning. I will edit my solution for clarity.

Uros Stojkovic - 3 years, 9 months ago

B implies, that h2 is exactly h1 divided by 2

schachtel wirt - 3 years, 9 months ago

density是密度我艹,居然不认识这个单词了.....就说怎么没有密度都能做出来....

yang chengtao - 3 years, 9 months ago
Marta Reece
Aug 11, 2017

The total weight of each arm needs to be the same. Higher density liquid can achieve that weight with shorter length of the tube. So the level at the high density end will be lower. The answer is B. (The option A would only work if the lighter liquid were as light as air, which we are assuming is not happening.)

I agree that both arms need to be the same weight, so would the less dense liquid not require more? As in answer A. B is same volume (not weight). Where am i wrong?

Tyler Evans - 3 years, 9 months ago

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The difference in image A and B is in A the denser liquid Y does not shift at all even when the liquid X is poured in the left arm which is not correct.

Rohit Gupta - 3 years, 9 months ago

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It is correct if the density of the air is the same as liquid X. The column of air on the right exerts the same downward force as the column of liquid X if their densities are the same. Normally we don't worry about this as liquids are typically far denser than gases, but I included the explanation for completeness since the case was pictured.

Marta Reece - 3 years, 9 months ago

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@Marta Reece Yes, the density of liquids is way more than air and can be fairly neglected.

Rohit Gupta - 3 years, 9 months ago

The two column need to be the same weight-not the same height, Since liquid x is less dense the left column must be taller. A is the correct answer, not B. For example, if liquid Y were mercury (density 13.6 x that of water) you would have to add a 13.6 cm of water (liquid x) to shift the levels of mercury 1 cm. So the top of the column of water in the left column would be 12.6 cm above the level in the right tube.

Gerald Neufeld - 3 years, 9 months ago

I am only now trying this app and I am very disheartened to see such an easy question with the wrong answer so soon. The real answer would be "none of the above" since the right column should come up to somewhere in the middle of the dark blue liquid. But A is the closest answer.

James Khan - 3 years, 9 months ago

Tyler is right.

Brandon Johnson - 3 years, 9 months ago

The answer is A ( although its not realistically drawn). Lets look at the manometer equation:

P2 = P1 + Sum ( gamma * h) down - Sum ( gamma * h) up

P1 = P2 = 0 gage

Sum ( gamma * h) down = Sum ( gamma * h) up

gamma represents specific weight of the fluid, h is the respective elevation of the fluid

Put a datum at the end of the U such that it cuts both pipes. Now start at the top of the left leg for the downward terms:

gamma X * h X + gamma Y * h Y

Right leg ( upward term):

gamma Y * h Z

Combining Left and Right:

gamma X * h X + gamma Y * h Y = gamma Y * h Z

gamma X * h X = gamma Y * h Z - gamma Y * h Y

gamma X * h X = gamma Y * (h Z - h_Y)

gamma X / gamma Y = (h Z - h Y) / h_X

(h Z - h Y) / h_X < 1 ( the specific weight of fluid X is less than fluid Y)

h X + h Y > h_Z

The fluid in the left leg must be higher than the right leg

Eric Roberts - 3 years, 9 months ago

This does not make any sense. On the figure B the high density end is at the same level as the other one. the correct answer has not been displayed.

Laszlo Mihaly - 3 years, 9 months ago

The right answer is A. Lets assume that the weight of X is W1 and the weight of Y is W2. If, W1>W2 then X will sink. That means the correct answer would be C. W1=W2 then X will be in the middle stage of floating and sinking (I don't know what it is called in English). That means the answer would be B. W1<W2 then X will float. That means the correct answer would be A.

Hope you got the answer... :)

Arko Sikder - 3 years, 9 months ago

The answer B is perfectly correct. If you didn't understand what @Marta Reece wanted to say, read my detailed solution which includes both physics and intuitive point of view. @James Khan don't be discouraged, Brilliant is a super-app!

Uros Stojkovic - 3 years, 9 months ago
Alexander Groves
Aug 25, 2017

The weight of the left and right hand side must be of equal for the system to be in equilibrium. As the density of liquid X on the left hand side is less than liquid y, the combined liquid X and y on the right must have greater volume then than the single liquid y on the right hand side.

Consequently the solution b is correct.

Ashutosh Patil
Feb 6, 2021

Argument: The height in each arm would depend on the pressure bearing down on the surface of the liquid.

Demonstration: Imagine one end of the tube were closed off and the pressure in that part = 0 In that case the liquid will rise to the limit in that end of the tube as the air pressure from the other end bears down on the liquid on that side. This is essentially what happens when you drink liquids out of a straw.

Therefore, adding any fluid with density > air in one end will cause the liquid in the other end to rise

In A, Y left = Y right, given information above this is incorrect (see above)

In C X+ Y left =Y right, which implies density X = density Y, which is false

In D (assuming equal air pressure on both sides) X+Y left > Y right, which implies density X > density Y

At this point elimination has given us the correct answer, but for the sake of closure

In B, liq X has displaced somewhere the volume between air pressure and Y, therefore is the correct choice

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