Physics 203 – Section B5 QUIZ 7 25 June 2014

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1. (4 points) Human lungs can function up to a limit where the pressure difference
between the outside and inside of the lungs is one twentieth of an atmosphere
(1 atm = 101 kPa). If a diver uses a snorkel for breathing, how far below the water
can she swim? Assume the diver is in salt water with a density of 1025 kg/m3 .

Solution: Air has a low density, so the increase in pressure from the surface of
the water to the diver’s lungs will be insignificant, so we can assume the air
inside the diver’s lungs is 1 atm. Then

P2 = P1 + ρgh, (1)

where P1 is the pressure above the water and P2 is the pressure a distance h below
the water. Therefore,

P2 − P1 0.05(101 × 103 Pa)

h= = = 0.502 738 m. (2)
ρg (1025 kg/m3 )(9.8 m/s2 )

2. (4 points) A simple pendulum consists of a ball connected to one end of a thin

brass wire (αbrass = 19 × 10−6 C◦−1 ). The period of the pendulum is 2.0000 s. The
temperature rises by 140 C◦ , increasing the length of the wire. Determine the period
of the heated pendulum. Give your answer with the same number of significant
figures.

Solution: The period of a simple pendulum is

s
L
T = 2π , (3)
g

which implies

gT 2 (9.8 m/s2 )(2.00 s)2

L= = = 0.992 948 m. (4)
4π2 4π2
Physics 203 – Section B5 QUIZ 7 25 June 2014

As the temperatures rises by 140 C◦ , the brass wire will grow in length by

∆L = αL0 ∆T = (19 × 10−6 C◦−1 )(0.992 948 m)(140 C◦ ) = 0.002 641 24 m. (5)

Therefore, the period increases to

s
L0 + ∆L
r
0.992 948 m + 0.002 641 24 m
T = 2π = 2π = 2.002 66 s. (6)
g 9.8 m/s2

3. (4 points) The density of mercury is 13 600 kg/m3 at 0 ◦ C. Its coefficient of thermal

expansion β = 182 × 10−6 C◦−1 . What would mercury’s density be at 166 ◦ C?

Solution: The density at 166 ◦ C

M
ρ166 =
V166
ρ0 V0
=
V166
ρ0 V0
=
V0 + ∆V
ρ0 V0
=
V0 + βV0 ∆T
ρ0
=
1 + β∆T
13 600 kg/m3
=
1 + (182 × 10−6 C◦−1 )(166 C◦ )
= 13 201 kg/m3 . (7)

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