/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 6 If you put a drinking straw in w... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

If you put a drinking straw in water, place your finger over the opening, and lift the straw out of the water, some water stays in the straw. Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
In short, when you lift a straw with your finger covering the opening, water stays in the straw due to the difference in air pressure inside and outside the straw. The trapped air inside the straw, as per Boyle's law, causes the pressure inside the straw to decrease as you lift it. This lower pressure inside the straw, compared to the constant atmospheric pressure outside, keeps the water from falling out. The finger plays a crucial role in trapping the air and creating this pressure difference.

Step by step solution

01

Identifying forces on the water inside the straw

First, we need to understand the forces acting on the water inside the straw when it's submerged in a liquid and when it's lifted with a finger covering the top. When the straw is submerged in water, there is atmospheric pressure acting on the water inside the straw as well as the water outside the straw. However, once we cover the top of the straw and lift it up, the air pressure inside the straw changes.
02

Understanding air pressure inside the straw

When the top of the straw is covered with a finger and the straw is lifted, the air pressure inside the straw decreases. Since the finger blocks the air from flowing in and out, the volume of air in the straw becomes trapped and is forced to expand as the straw is lifted out of the water. According to Boyle's law, as the volume of a gas increases, its pressure decreases, keeping the product of the pressure and volume constant (P1V1 = P2V2).
03

Comparing air pressure inside and outside the straw

As we lift the straw, the pressure inside the straw has decreased (due to Boyle's law explained in Step 2), while the atmospheric pressure outside the straw remains the same. Since the atmospheric pressure outside the straw is greater than the pressure inside the straw, it pushes the water up the straw and prevents it from falling out.
04

Role of the finger

The finger covering the top of the straw is essential in this process. It traps the air inside the straw and creates the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the straw. Without the finger, the pressure would equalize as the straw is lifted, and the water would spill out due to gravity.
05

Conclusion

In conclusion, when you put a drinking straw in water, place your finger over the opening, and lift the straw out of the water, some water stays in the straw due to the difference in air pressure inside and outside the straw. The air pressure inside the straw is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside due to the trapped air and Boyle's law. This difference in pressure prevents the water from falling out of the straw, even though it's lifted out of the water.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

The total volume of hydrogen gas needed to fill the Hindenburg was \(2.0 \times 10^{8} \mathrm{L}\) at 1.0 atm and \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Given that \(\Delta H_{\mathrm{f}}^{\circ}\) for \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l)\) is \(-286 \mathrm{kJ} / \mathrm{mol},\) how much heat was evolved when the Hindenburg exploded, assuming all of the hydrogen reacted to form water?

In 1897 the Swedish explorer Andreé tried to reach the North Pole in a balloon. The balloon was filled with hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas was prepared from iron splints and diluted sulfuric acid. The reaction is $$\mathrm{Fe}(s)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{FeSO}_{4}(a q)+\mathrm{H}_{2}(g)$$ The volume of the balloon was \(4800 \mathrm{m}^{3}\) and the loss of hydrogen gas during filling was estimated at \(20 . \% .\) What mass of iron splints and \(98 \%\) (by mass) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) were needed to ensure the complete filling of the balloon? Assume a temperature of \(0^{\circ} \mathrm{C},\) a pressure of \(1.0\) atm during filling, and \(100 \%\) yield.

A student adds \(4.00 \mathrm{g}\) of dry ice (solid \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) ) to an empty balloon. What will be the volume of the balloon at STP after all the dry ice sublimes (converts to gaseous \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) )?

Helium is collected over water at \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) and 1.00 atm total pressure. What total volume of gas must be collected to obtain \(0.586 \mathrm{g}\) helium? (At \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) the vapor pressure of water is 23.8 torr.)

At \(0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) a \(1.0\)-\(\mathrm{L}\) flask contains \(5.0 \times 10^{-2}\) mole of \(\mathrm{N}_{2}, 1.5 \times\) \(10^{2} \mathrm{mg} \mathrm{O}_{2},\) and \(5.0 \times 10^{21}\) molecules of \(\mathrm{NH}_{3} .\) What is the partial pressure of each gas, and what is the total pressurelin the flask?

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.