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Ch 14: Fluids and Elasticity
Chapter 14, Problem 14

A hurricane wind blows across a 6.0 m x 15.0 m flat roof at a speed of 130 km/h.(b) What is the pressure difference?

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1
Convert the wind speed from km/h to m/s by using the conversion factor: 1 km/h = 0.27778 m/s. Multiply the wind speed by this factor.
Use Bernoulli's equation to relate the pressure difference to the wind speed. The equation in its simplified form for this scenario (assuming air density remains constant and ignoring height differences) is: \(\Delta P = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^2\), where \(\Delta P\) is the pressure difference, \(\rho\) is the density of air (approximately 1.2 kg/m^3 at sea level), and \(v\) is the wind speed in m/s.
Substitute the converted wind speed and the density of air into the Bernoulli's equation to calculate the pressure difference.
Ensure that all units are consistent when substituting values into the equation (m/s for speed, kg/m^3 for density).
Interpret the result, understanding that the calculated pressure difference is the difference between the pressure inside and outside due to the wind speed.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Bernoulli's Principle

Bernoulli's Principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure. In the context of a hurricane, as the wind speed increases over the roof, the pressure above the roof decreases compared to the pressure inside the building, leading to a pressure difference that can cause structural damage.
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Pressure Difference

Pressure difference refers to the variation in pressure between two points in a fluid. It is crucial in understanding how forces act on surfaces, such as roofs during a hurricane. The pressure difference can be calculated using Bernoulli's equation, which relates the speed of the fluid and the pressure exerted on surfaces.
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Conversion of Units

In physics, it is often necessary to convert units to ensure consistency in calculations. In this problem, the wind speed is given in kilometers per hour (km/h) and must be converted to meters per second (m/s) for use in calculations involving pressure. This conversion is essential for accurately applying formulas that involve speed and pressure.
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Related Practice
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The tank shown in FIGURE CP14.73 is completely filled with a liquid of density p. The right face is not permanently attached to the tank but, instead, is held against a rubber seal by the tension in a spring. To prevent leakage, the spring must both pull with sufficient strength and prevent a torque from pushing the bottom of the right face out. (a) What minimum spring tension is needed?

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Air flows through the tube shown in FIGURE P14.62 at a rate of 1200 cm³/s . Assume that air is an ideal fluid. What is the height h of mercury in the right side of the U-tube?

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Air flows through the tube shown in FIGURE P14.63. Assume that air is an ideal fluid. (b) What is the volume flow rate?

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