Question

A closed, 5-m-tall tank is filled with water to a depth of 4 m. The top portion of the tank is filled with air which, as indicated by a pressure gage at the top of the tank, is at a pressure of 20 kPa. Determine the pressure that the water exerts on the bottom of the tank.

Answer 1

The pressure that the water exerts on the bottom of the tank is 59.2 kPa

Step-by-step explanation:

Given;

height of tank, h = 5m

height of water in the tank,
`h_w` = 4m

pressure at the top of the tank,
`P_(top)` = 20 kPa

The pressure exerted by water at the bottom of the tank is the sum of pressure on water surface and pressure due to water column.

`P_(bottom) = \gamma h + P_(top)\\\\P_(bottom) = (9.8*10^3*4 \ \ + \ 20*10^3)Pa\\\\P_(bottom) = 59200 \ Pa\\\\P_(bottom) = 59.2 \ kPa`

Therefore, the pressure that the water exerts on the bottom of the tank is 59.2 kPa