# A U-tube Contains Water and Methylated Spirit Separated by Mercury. the Mercury Columns in the Two Arms Are in Level with 10.0 Cm of Water in One Arm and 12.5 Cm of Spirit in the Other. What is the Specific Gravity of Spirit? - Physics

A U-tube contains water and methylated spirit separated by mercury. The mercury columns in the two arms are in level with 10.0 cm of water in one arm and 12.5 cm of spirit in the other. What is the specific gravity of spirit?

#### Solution 1

The given system of water, mercury, and methylated spirit is shown as follows:

Height of the spirit column, h1 = 12.5 cm = 0.125 m

Height of the water column, h2 = 10 cm = 0.1 m

P0 = Atmospheric pressure

ρ1 = Density of spirit

ρ2 = Density of water

Pressure at point B =  P_0 + h_1rho_1g

Pressure at point D = P_0 + h_2rho_2g

Pressure at points B and D is the same.

P_0 + h_1rho_1g =h_2rho_2g

rho_1/rho_2 = h_2/h_1

= 10/12.5 = 0.8

Therefore, the specific gravity of spirit is 0.8.

#### Solution 2

For water column in one arm of U tube,  h1 = 10.0 cm; ρ1 (density) = 1 g cm-3
For spirit column in other arm of U tube,  h2 = 12.5 cm; ρ2 =?

As the mercury columns in the two arms of U tube are in level, therefore pressure exerted by each is equal.

Hence  h1ρ1g =  h2ρ2g or ρ2 = h1ρ1/h2 =10 x 1/12.5 = 0.8 g cm-3

Therefore, relative density of spirit = ρ21 = 0.8/1 = 0.8

Is there an error in this question or solution?

#### APPEARS IN

NCERT Class 11 Physics Textbook
Chapter 10 Mechanical Properties of Fluids
Q 9 | Page 269