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Newfound Lake, a freshwater lake near Bristol, New Hampshire, has a maximum depth of 60 m, and the mean atmospheric pressure is 91 kPa. Estimate the absolute pressure in kPa at this maximum depth

User Nain
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Final answer:

The estimated absolute pressure at the maximum depth of 60 m in Newfound Lake, with a mean atmospheric pressure of 91 kPa, is approximately 679.6 kPa. This is calculated by summing the atmospheric pressure and the pressure exerted by the water column using the formula for pressure due to the weight of a liquid and freshwater density.

Step-by-step explanation:

To estimate the absolute pressure in kPa at the maximum depth of 60 m in Newfound Lake with a mean atmospheric pressure of 91 kPa, we can use the formula for pressure due to the weight of a liquid column, which is P = P0 + ρgh, where P is the absolute pressure, P0 is the atmospheric pressure, ρ is the density of the liquid, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the depth of the liquid.

Assuming freshwater with a density of approximately 1000 kg/m3 and an acceleration due to gravity of 9.81 m/s2, we can calculate the pressure exerted by the water column as:

P = 91 kPa + (1000 kg/m3)(9.81 m/s2)(60 m)

First, convert the height of the water from meters to the SI base unit for length, which is already in meters, so no conversion is needed.

Calculating the pressure due to the water column gives us 1000 kg/m3 × 9.81 m/s2 × 60 m = 588600 Pa or 588.6 kPa. Adding the atmospheric pressure, the total absolute pressure is:

P = 91 kPa + 588.6 kPa = 679.6 kPa.

Therefore, the estimated absolute pressure at the bottom of Newfound Lake is approximately 679.6 kPa.

User Eric Tatara
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