Barometric characterization of a draining container

Abstract

Abstract A characterization of a draining container is performed by measuring the pressure change at its bottom while the container drains through a small orifice. The Physics model is based on the continuity equation and Bernoulli’s principle. The pressure is measured with the barometer of the smartphone which is placed inside a hermetically sealed bag and laid at the bottom of the container. The expected theoretical relationship between the pressure at the bottom of the container and time was observed. The value for the coefficient of discharge is also estimated. The results of a survey applied to students and teachers at secondary school level indicate that the use of the pressure sensor of the smartphones helped the students to understand the basic concepts of hydrostatics and hydrodynamics at the same time their motivation for physics was increased.