help me win a bet regarding subs/water pressure physics

minsc_tdp · 09-13-07, 09:46 PM

My brother and I completely disagree on what will happen to chambers 2 and 3 in this scenario. I won't skew the answers here by stating who holds which opinion.

To clarify, there is an underwater structure that is taking on 1000 LBs of water pressure. There are three chambers, each with a seal that can hold back 999 LBs of water. IMPORTANT: These numbers are chosen so that we both agree on the fact that the pressure is not enough to entirely destroy the seal and open a hole. It's just a slow leak.

Only one of two possibilities exist that we are arguing:

1. The slow leak will eventually fill the top chamber. At that moment the pressure equalizes and the strength of the first seal is nullified. The 1000 LBs of pressure is now instantly transferred to the second seal, and a similar leak occurs, therefore all chambers will eventually flood.

2. The slow leak will eventually fill the top chamber. However, the first seal still has 999 LBs of strength, so only 1 LB of pressure (plus whatever the weight of the water in the chamber is, but assume it is VERY small and thus irrelevant) is transferred to the second seal. So, the 2nd seal is more than capable of holding back the 1 LB of pressure, so it never leaks or floods chambers 2 and 3.

If I lose, I have to pay him $50. If I win, he has to do my laundry (easily worth more than $50. I'm a slob, it's like 6 loads and we both hate it.)

If you vote, please explain your logic, thanks!

View Poll Results: Will chambers 2 and 3 flood?
Chambers 2 and 3 will flood	23	88.46%
Chambers 2 and 3 will not flood	3	11.54%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

09-13-07, 09:46 PM	#1
minsc_tdp XO Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 411 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	help me win a bet regarding subs/water pressure physics My brother and I completely disagree on what will happen to chambers 2 and 3 in this scenario. I won't skew the answers here by stating who holds which opinion. To clarify, there is an underwater structure that is taking on 1000 LBs of water pressure. There are three chambers, each with a seal that can hold back 999 LBs of water. IMPORTANT: These numbers are chosen so that we both agree on the fact that the pressure is not enough to entirely destroy the seal and open a hole. It's just a slow leak. Only one of two possibilities exist that we are arguing: 1. The slow leak will eventually fill the top chamber. At that moment the pressure equalizes and the strength of the first seal is nullified. The 1000 LBs of pressure is now instantly transferred to the second seal, and a similar leak occurs, therefore all chambers will eventually flood. 2. The slow leak will eventually fill the top chamber. However, the first seal still has 999 LBs of strength, so only 1 LB of pressure (plus whatever the weight of the water in the chamber is, but assume it is VERY small and thus irrelevant) is transferred to the second seal. So, the 2nd seal is more than capable of holding back the 1 LB of pressure, so it never leaks or floods chambers 2 and 3. If I lose, I have to pay him $50. If I win, he has to do my laundry (easily worth more than $50. I'm a slob, it's like 6 loads and we both hate it.) If you vote, please explain your logic, thanks! __________________ June 29 2016 - shSpeech v2.55 - Voice Command for Silent Hunter 4! View Thread Last edited by minsc_tdp; 09-13-07 at 10:02 PM.