A U tube is rotated about one of it's limbs with an angular velocity . Find the difference in height of the liquid (density ) level, where diameter of the tube .
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Written solution
Step 1: Set up the pressure gradient equation.
In the rotating frame of reference, the centrifugal force creates a radial pressure gradient along the horizontal section of the tube.
Step 2: Integrate to find the pressure difference between the limbs.
Integrate the pressure gradient from the axis of rotation at to the outer limb at .
Step 3: Relate the pressure difference to the height difference.
The pressure difference is balanced by the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column of height .
Step 4: Solve for the height difference .
Equate the two expressions for the pressure difference.
Answer: The difference in height is .