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Question -

A metre long narrow bore held horizontally (and closed at one end) contains a 76 cm long mercury thread, which traps a 15 cm column of air. What happens if the tube is held vertically with the open end at the bottom?



Answer -

Length of the narrow bore, L = 1 m = 100 cm

Length of the mercury thread, l = 76 cm

Length of the air column between mercury and the closed end, la= 15 cm

Since the bore is held vertically in air with the open end atthe bottom, the mercury length that occupies the air space is:

= 100 тАУ (76 + 15)

= 9 cm

Therefore,

The total length of the air column = 15 + 9 = 24 cm

Let h cm of mercury flow out as a result of atmospheric pressure

So,

Length of the air column in the bore = 24 + h cm

And,

Length of the mercury column = 76 тАУ h cm

Initial pressure, V1┬а= 15 cm3

Final pressure, P2┬а=76 тАУ (76 тАУ h)

= h cm of mercury

Final volume, V2┬а=(24 + h) cm3

Temperature remains constant throughout the process

Therefore,

P1V1┬а= P2V2

On substituting, we get,

76 x 15 = h (24 + h)

h2┬а+ 24h тАУ 11410= 0

On solving further, we get,

= 23.8 cm or -47.8 cm

Since height cannot be negative. Hence, 23.8 cm of mercury willflow out from the bore

Length of the air column = 24 + 23.8 = 47.8 cm

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