Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

A 0.366 kg metal cylinder is placed inside the top of a plastic tube, the lower

ID: 2269770 • Letter: A

Question

A 0.366 kg metal cylinder is placed inside the top of a plastic tube, the lower end of which is sealed off by an adjustable plunger, and comes to rest some distance above the plunger. The plastic tube has an inner radius of 5.71 mm, and is frictionless. Neither the plunger nor the metal cylinder allow any air to flow around them. If the plunger is suddenly pushed upwards, increasing the pressure between the plunger and the metal cylinder by a factor of 3.03, what is the initial acceleration of the metal cylinder? Assume the pressure outside of the tube is 1.00 atm.

Explanation / Answer

at first the pressure inside the tube was 1 atm

when it was pressued it became P=1*3.03=3.03 atm

now the presuure outside is also 1 atm

so net preuusre difference acros the metal cylinder=3.03-a=2.03 atm

we know P=F/A

F=P*A

A=pi*(radius)^2=pi*(5.71x10^-3)^2=1.8x10^-4m^2

F=2.03x10^5x1.8x10^-4= N

now gravitational force on metal cylinder=mg=0.336*9.8=5.39N

net force on cylinder=15.826-5.39=10.436N

a=F/m=10.346/0.336=31.059 m/sec^2