1

Unchecked Aspects of Variation of Acceleration due to Gravity with Altitude

Ajay Sharma
Fundamental Physical Society. His Mercy Enclave. Post Box 107 GPO Shimla 171001 HP ndia Email! a"ay.#$r%&mail.com

Abstract
t is correctly esta'lished that & decreases (ith altitude) 'ut the variation o* & (ith atmos#heric #ressure +decreases (ith altitude, is not considered in #recise ex#eriments in the existin& literature. -orricelli determined in #ioneerin& ex#eriments that hei&ht o* mercury column in

'arometer as 0.7.m due to atmos#heric #ressure in 1.//. 0e(ton *ormulated & in 1.12) and then Pascal3s 4a( (as treated in #resence o* &ravity *or ima&inary cylinder o* li$uid. -hus e$uation P56&H is o'tained (hich relates acceleration due to &ravity) & (ith atmos#heric #ressure) P. -he ex#ression *or variation in & (ith altitude as &h 5 &7+18h79,:) 'y 'oth methods (ill 'e com#ared. ;t sea level the hei&hts o* li$uid columns +*or (ater 10.<<m ) *or &lycerine 1.:0:m ) ethyl alcohol 1<.1.m , are inde#endent o* other *actors such as diameters o* tu'es) viscosity) sur*ace tension o* li$uid) an&le o* contact and ca#illarity etc. ;t hei&ht o* : =m a'ove the sur*ace o* the earth the hei&hts o* li$uid columns are reduced e.&. *or mercury 0.2>.7m) *or (ater 1.1121m and *or &lycerine ..//11 m. 0o( measurin& P) H and & can 'e calculated. -he value o* & can 'e determined 'y 'oth methods at various hei&hts and should 'e same. -heoretically (hen atmos#heric #ressure 'ecomes ?ero then value o* &H +P76H, must tend to ?ero! accordin& to &h 5 &7+18h79,: ) &h 'ecomes ?ero at in*inite lar&e distances. But no such attem#ts have 'een re#orted in literature) hence it is o#en #ro'lem es#ecially (hen tu'es o* various diameters are considered and characteristics o* li$uids are di**erent. 6ue to diverse ex#erimental conditions o* li$uids and e$ui#ments) mercury may 'e re&arded as ideal li$uid *or such measurements o* #ressure. -he value o* & due to altitude decreases steadily) (hereas due to atmos#heric #ressure & decreases a'ru#tly. So sensitive ex#eriments are a'solutely necessary to dra( concrete conclusions.

1.0 ntroduction -orricelli *ormed mercury 'arometer in 1.// and con*irmed the hei&ht o* mercury column as 0.7.m and acceleration due to &ravity (as de*ined 'y 0e(ton in 1.12) then ex#ression *or #ressure @1A<B (as determined as P 56&H +1, (as calculated usin& Pascal la( in #resence o* &ravity. Here P is #ressure! & is acceleration due to &ravity and H is hei&ht o* li$uid column. Consider a li$uid o* density 6 is in e$uili'rium o* rest. E$.+1, is derived *or ima&inary cylinder o* li$uid. Consider a li$uid o* density 6 is in e$uili'rium o* rest. -here*ore net *orce actin& cylinder (ill also 'e ?ero i.e. F18M&AF: 50 +:, (here F1 is *orce actin& vertically do(n(ards on the to# *ace o* the cylinder) F: is the *orce is actin& vertically u#(ards on the lo(er *ace o* cylinder. M& is the (ei&ht o* mass o* (ater in cylinder. P1;8 ;H6&AP:;50 and lo(er sur*aces. Pressure exerted 'y li$uid column) P:AP1 5 P or P 56H& So) E$.+1, 'ecomes P51<).00=&mA< >.1msA: 0.7.m51.01< 102 Pa +2, t may 'e re&arded as standard e$uation *or atmos#heric #ressure. n e$.+1, H is hei&ht o* ima&inary cylinder o* li$uid (hich is su'mer&ed in the same li$uid + the same li$uid is a'ove and 'elo( the cylinder,.Dhereas in case o* mercury 'arometer ) the hei&ht H o* li$uid column is 0.7.m ) a'ove the mercury column there is vacuum . Dhereas (hile derivin& P 56&H) the same li$uid is considered a'ove and 'elo( the ima&inary cylinder o* li$uid. Further accordin& to 0e(ton3s la( o* &ravitation) the acceleration due to &ravity decreases as altitude increases. -he acceleration due to &ravity at the sur*ace o* the earth & 5 GM79: ;cceleration due to &ravity &h at hei&ht h is +., (here G is &ravitational constant) M is mass o* the earth and 9 is radius o* the earth. +/, +1, +<, (here P1 is #ressure at u##er end and P: is #ressure at the lo(er *ace. ; is area o* u##er

-he unit o* #ressure) Pascal (as de*ined 'y sim#ly #uttin& value o* H e$ual to 0.7.m.

&h 5 GM7+98h,: From e$.+., and e$.+7, &h 5 &7+18:h79,: &ravity 'y method o* variation o* #ressure is &iven 'y &H 5 P 76H

+7, +1,

-he acceleration due to &ravity at hei&ht h is &iven 'y e$s.+7)1, and acceleration due to +>,

Both e$s.+1)>, &ive value o* & ) 'ut 'y entirely di**erent methods. !.0 and "omparison for acceleration due to #ravity by both e$uations i.e. #% &'()% #h & #( *1+h(,-!

0o( at di**erent hei&hts acceleration due to &ravity 'y 'oth e$uations i.e. &h 5P76H and &h 5 &7 +18h79,:. n one e$uation &h de#ends u#on P) 6 and H (hereas in other it only de#ends u#on altitude) h. ;ccordin& to &h 5 &7 +18h79,: the value o* & decreases steadily (hereas accordin& to &H 5P76H) the same decreases a'ru#tly. -he measurement o* & due to Emethod atmos#heric #ressure3 and .variation (ith altitude3) im#lies that & decreases (ith hei&ht) h. ;ccordin& to e$.+1, & de#ends u#on hei&ht h. Dhereas in e$.+1, or e$.+>, & indirectly de#ends u#on hei&ht h as #ressure decreases causin& decrease in hei&ht o* li$uid column H. ;t hei&ht o* 20=m the total air is only 1F im#lyin& considera'le decrease in #ressure as atmos#heric #ressure decreases. ;t hei&ht o* 20 =m) atmos#heric #ressure is 72.>// Pa and the same at hei&ht o* :2 =m is :211.0: Pa. -hus accordin&ly & (ill decrease. +i, -he varia'les in e$.+1, are density o* li$uid (hich can 'e =e#t constant) #ressure P can 'e measured 'y various methods ) hei&ht o* the column H has to 'e directly measured. -here are no such *actors li=e diameter o* tu'e +tu'es can 'e o* di**erent diameters,) viscosity) sur*ace tension) ca#illarity and an&les o* contact etc. E$.+1, is valid *or all li$uids and tu'es. -he various characteristics o* li$uids) are sho(n in -a'le . +a, For mercury 'arometer) the hei&ht o* li$uid column is 0.7.m. t is clear *rom e$.+2, the hei&ht o* mercury column is re&arded as standard and &ive unit o* #ressure 1.01< 102 Pa. -his ma&nitude o* #ressure may 'e used *or calculatin& the hei&ht o* li$uid columns o* various li$uids. +', -he hei&hts o* li$uid columns o* ethyl alcohol) (ater and &lycerine 'arometers are &iven 'y 1<.1.m) 10.<<m) and 1.:m at sea level. n s#ite o* availa'ility o* #recise measurement techni$ues such ex#eriments are not conducted yet.

+i,-he acceleration due to &ravity also varies (ith altitude) and theoretically tends to ?ero at in*inity) accordin& to e$uation &h 5 & 7 +18h79,: . ;lso accordin& to &H 5P76H) acceleration due to &ravity 'ecomes ?ero (hen P50 #rovided 6 and H are *inite. ;t hi&her altitude the #ressure decreases a'ru#tly) hence &H. +ii, -he various ty#ical #redictions *or hei&hts o* li$uid columns are sho(n at -a'le . ;t distance o* :=m the hei&hts o* mercury) (ater and &lycerine columns are 0.2>.>m) 1.1121m) and ..//11m. -hese values are lo(er than values at sea level and hi&her than values at 1=m +ty#ical hei&ht o* #ea=s o* Mount Everest. For com#leteness the values H are determined at hei&hts :2=m +:211.0: Pa, and 20=m +72.>// Pa, a'ove sea level. +c, ;cceleration due to &ravity is more at #oles than at e$uator) hence accordin&ly the hei&ht o* li$uid column (ill vary accordin&ly. /.0 "ritical discussion +i, ;ccordin& to e$uation P 5 6&H) the #ressure is com#letely inde#endent o* other *actors such as diameters o* tu'es) viscosity) sur*ace tension o* li$uid) an&le o* contact and ca#illarity etc. -here is no *actor (hich ta=es in account the diameter o* the tu'e in (hich hei&ht o* li$uid column is measured. -heoretically) the hei&ht o* li$uid column must 'e same *or ca#illary tu'e +closed u##er end , and tu'e o* diameter t(o *eet. Ho(ever the #henomena o* rise or *all o* li$uids is o'served in ca#illary) (hereas u##er end is o#en. -his as#ect is not ta=en in account in e$uation P 56&H. +ii, Mercury does not (et the (alls o* container) (hereas (ater does. -his #ro#erty is li=ely to a**ect the hei&ht o* (ater column. +iii, Similarly &lycerine is the most viscous li$uid the viscosity o* &lycerine is .1>..7 times that o* mercury and 1021 times that o* (ater. t causes internal resistance o* the *luid and retards motion! it may a**ect the sta'ili?ation o* li$uid column. -he viscous *luids also (et the tu'e. +vi, -he acceleration due to &ravity at any hei&ht +&H 5 P76H, can 'e calculated 'y measurin& atmos#heric #ressure P and hei&ht o* li$uid column) H. ;t any hei&ht the atmos#heric #ressure P) can 'e =no(n *rom standard atmos#heric calculator and H has to 'e ex#erimentally con*irmed *or various li$uids +mercury) (ater) &lycerine etc,. -hus &H can 'e measured. On the other hand acceleration due to &ravity &h 5 &7 +18h79,:) varies (ith hei&ht (hich can 'e easily estimated. 0o( 'oth values o* & must 'e the same. For

consistency o* 'oth values o* & ) the hei&hts o* li$uid columns are sho(n in -a'le . +v, -hus undou'tedly mercury may 'e re&arded as ideal li$uid *or such measurements as it has lo( viscosity hence comes to rest $uic=ly) and does not (ets the (alls o* &lass tu'e. But the ex#eriments has to 'e conducted under diverse conditions *or various li$uids) in vie( o* e$.+1, *or &eneral conclusions.

0able 11 "omparison of various characteristics of 2thyl alcohol3 water3 #lycerine and mercury. "haracteristic 2thyl alcohol 6ensity+ k#(m/ Coe**. O* viscosity +#oise, 678 1.<: 10A/ 1)000 1.01 10A: 1:.0 10..> 1<.00 12.2 10A< 4ater Glycerine 5ercury

Sur*ace tension+dyne7cm,

!!./

72..

.<.1

/.2 +dyne7cm,

;n&le o* contact Ca#illarity Physical 'ehaviour

G>0 9ise Dets

1A>0 9ise Dets

AA AA Dets

1<7 Fall 6oes Det not

Hei&ht o* li$uid column +h, 1<.1. in m

10.<<

1.:0:

0.7.

0able

%ei#hts of li$uid columns of different li$uids in tubes of different

diameters3 at different hei#hts. Sr. Hei&ht Pressure ;cceleration Mercury Dater +H1, Glycerine +H:,

0o +m, 1 : < / 2 . 7 1 > 10 11 0 1 : < / 2 . 7 1 :2 20 101<00

+&, >.1

H5P76& 0.7. 0..7/< 0.2>.7 0.2:.2 0./.<0 0./02> 0.<2/. 0.<017 0.:.77 0.01>12 0.00021

H15P761& 10.<< >.17<7 1.1121 7.1.0. ..:>77 2.2:01 /.1:</ /.1>>0 <../17 0.:.0/7 0.007>>>

H:5P76:& 1.:0: 7.:107 ..//11 2..1< /.>>11 /.<11. <.1:11 <.<<:. :.1>0: 0.:0.7: 0.00.:2:

1>)17/.27 >.7>.> 7>)/12.: 70)101.2 .1)./0.: 2/)01>.> /7)111. >.7><1 >.7>01 >.7177 >.71/7 >.711.

/1)0.0.7/ >.7712 <2)2>>.1 :211.0: 72.>// >.7722 >../1. >.20071

9.0

"onclusions

-he acceleration due to &ravity) & varies (ith altitude and it can 'e measured (ith t(o methods i.e. &H 5 P76H and &h 5 &7 +18h79,:. -he values o* &h 'y 'oth methods must 'e the same. -he acceleration due to &ravity has not yet 'een measured 'y *ormer method. Moreover in this case there are many #arameters *or (hich e$uation to 'e tested) only then &eneral conclusions can 'e dra(n. For consistency o* 'oth the methods the values o* hei&ht o* li$uids columns + *or mercury) (ater and &lycerine), are 0..7/<m) >.17<7m and 7.:107m at hei&ht o* :=m a'ove sea level. Such o'servations have not 'een ta=en 'y scientists in the existin& literature. n this re&ard it can 'e added that e$uation &h 5 P76H (as derived *or ima&inary cylinder o* li$uid) (hich is su'mer&ed in the li$uid o* the same density. Dhereas in determination o* hei&ht o* li$uid column) the a'ove the li$uid column there is vacuum. Further a##arently some si&ni*icant *actors such as diameters o* tu'es) viscosity) sur*ace tension o* li$uid) an&le o* contact and ca#illarity etc have 'een excluded. ;lso the e$uation (as derived *or ima&inary cylinder in e$uili'rium (ith li$uid at rest. Ho(ever it is a##lied *or #ractical #ur#oses as cited a'ove. Such *actors may a**ect the results. -hus sensitive ex#eriments are re$uired to com#are the 'oth values o* &. t is e$ually #ossi'le in vie( o* diverse #arameters o* various li$uids) mercury has to 'e re&arded as standard in measurements o* #ressure. -he value o* & due to altitude

decreases steadily) (hereas due to atmos#heric #ressure & decreases a'ru#tly. So sensitive ex#eriments are a'solutely necessary to dra( concrete conclusions.
Acknowled#ements ;uthor is hi&hly inde'ted to 6r - 9amasami and 6r Ste#hen Crothers *or encoura&ements and critical discussions.

,eferences @1B ;''ott) ;.F.) Ordinary Level Physics, /th ed. ;rnold Heinemann) 0e( 6elhi ##. 102A11<) +1>1/,. @:B 9esnic=) 9. and 6. Halliday, Physics Part, 42nd ed. Diley Eastern 4imited) 0e( 6elhi ##. 9/!:9/;) +1>>:,. @<B Sears) F.D.) Heemans=y) M.D. and H.6. Ioun&) University Physics, 13th ed. 0arosa Pu'lishin& House) 0e( 6elhi ##. !86:!873 +1>12,.