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AP Physics 1
8.2 Pressure
IntermediateMCQMathematicalConceptual24.6k
Sealed cylinder containing trapped gas and two immiscible liquids.
Sealed cylinder containing trapped gas and two immiscible liquids.
A rigid, sealed vertical cylinder contains two immiscible liquids: an upper layer of oil with density \(\rho_1\) and thickness \(h_1\), and a lower layer of water with density \(\rho_2\) and thickness \(h_2\), where \(\rho_2 > \rho_1\). Trapped above the oil is a pocket of gas at an initial absolute pressure \(P_{\text{gas}}\), which is greater than the external atmospheric pressure \(P_{\text{atm}}\). A valve at the top of the cylinder is opened, allowing gas to escape until the gas pressure decreases to \(P_{\text{atm}}\), while the heights of the liquids remain unchanged. Which row in the table correctly describes the changes in the three indicated pressure quantities after the valve is opened?

| | Absolute pressure at bottom of container | Pressure difference between interface and bottom | Gauge pressure at oil-water interface |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

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