Q.What is the density of water at a depth where pressure is 80.0 atm, given that its density at the surface is ?
You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.
Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →The density of water increases slightly under high pressure due to compression, a phenomenon quantified by the Bulk Modulus. By applying the Bulk Modulus formula, we find the new density. The density of water at a depth where pressure is 80.0 atm is .
When a fluid like water is subjected to increased pressure, its volume decreases slightly, leading to a corresponding increase in its density. This resistance to compression is characterized by a material property called the Bulk Modulus (). The Bulk Modulus essentially tells us how much pressure is needed to cause a certain fractional change in volume.
The higher the Bulk Modulus, the more resistant the material is to compression. Water has a relatively high Bulk Modulus, meaning it is not easily compressible, but a measurable change in density does occur under significant pressure.
Here's how we approach this problem:
- We identify the initial density and the change in pressure.
- We use the definition of Bulk Modulus, which relates the pressure change to the fractional volume change.
- We then relate the fractional volume change to the fractional density change, as mass remains constant.
- Finally, we calculate the new density.
Let's work through the steps.
-
Identify Given Values and Target
- Initial density of water at the surface, .
- Pressure at depth, .
- Surface pressure, .
- We need to find the new density, .
The change in pressure () experienced by the water from the surface to the depth is the difference between the pressure at depth and the surface pressure:
.
To use the Bulk Modulus, we must convert this pressure change to SI units (Pascals):
.
.
-
Recall the Bulk Modulus Formula
The Bulk Modulus () is defined as:
Where:
- is the change in pressure.
- is the change in volume.
- is the initial volume.
- The negative sign indicates that an increase in pressure () leads to a decrease in volume (), keeping positive.
-
Relate Volume Change to Density Change
The mass () of the water remains constant. We know that mass is related to density () and volume () by .
So, .
Taking the differential of (assuming is constant):
Dividing by :
For small changes, we can approximate this as:
Where is the change in density. …
Unlock everything free for 14 days
- Full step-by-step solutions
- Concept-first explanations
- Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.