If a solid will break under pressure greater than 13atm and that solid has specific gravity of 4, what is maximum height of a circular column made from the solid that can be built at the earth's surface?( Note: 1atm = 10^5 Pa), g = 10m/s^2

1 Answer
Aug 5, 2018

Let us consider unit area of the column of solid of safe height h.

Pressure P_T created at the lowest part of the column is sum of pressure due to the weight of the column and atmospheric pressure P_A. The pressure equation becomes

P_A + h rhog = P_T
where rho is the density of solid and g is acceleration due gravity.
=>h = (P_T-P_A)/(rhog)

Inserting given values we get

h = (13xx10^5-10^5)/((4xx10^3)xx10)
=>h = (12xx10^5)/(4xx10^4)
=>h=30\ m