10. _Theorem._--If two liquids of different density are resting in
vessels in communication, the height of the free surface of such
liquid above the surface of separation is inversely as the density.
For if the liquid of density [sigma] rises to the height h and of
density [rho] to the height k, and p0 denotes the atmospheric
pressure, the pressure in the liquid at the level of the surface of
separation will be [sigma]h + p0 and [rho]k + p0, and these being
equal we have
[sigma]h = [rho]k. (1)
The principle is illustrated in the article BAROMETER, where a column
of mercury of density [sigma] and height h, rising in the tube to the
Torricellian vacuum, is balanced by a column of air of density [rho],
which may be supposed to rise as a homogeneous fluid to a height k,
called the height of the homogeneous atmosphere. Thus water being
about 800 times denser than air and mercury 13.6 times denser than
water,
k/h = [sigma]/[rho] = 800 × 13.6 = 10,880; (2)
and with an average barometer height of 30 in. this makes k 27,200
ft., about 8300 metres.
11. _The Head of Water or a Liquid._--The pressure [sigma]h at a depth
h ft. in liquid of density [sigma] is called the pressure due to a
_head_ of h ft. of the liquid. The atmospheric pressure is thus due to
an average head of 30 in. of mercury, or 30 × 13.6 ÷ 12 = 34 ft. of
water, or 27,200 ft. of air. The pressure of the air is a convenient
unit to employ in practical work, where it is called an "atmosphere";
it is made the equivalent of a pressure of one kg/cm²; and one
ton/inch², employed as the unit with high pressure as in artillery,
may be taken as 150 atmospheres.
12. _Theorem._--A body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force
equal to the weight of the liquid displaced, acting vertically upward
through the centre of gravity of the displaced liquid.
For if the body is removed, and replaced by the fluid as at first,
this fluid is in equilibrium under its own weight and the thrust of
the surrounding fluid, which must be equal and opposite, and the
surrounding fluid acts in the same manner when the body replaces the
displaced fluid again; so that the resultant thrust of the fluid acts
vertically upward through the centre of gravity of the fluid
displaced, and is equal to the weight.
When the body is floating freely like a ship, the equilibrium of this
liquid thrust with the weight of the ship requires that the weight of
water displaced is equal to the weight of the ship and the two centres
of gravity are in the same vertical line. So also a balloon begins to
rise when the weight of air displaced is greater than the weight of
the balloon, and it is in equilibrium when the weights are equal. This
theorem is called generally the _principle of Archimedes_.
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