Question

On January 15, 1919 a cylindrical tank of molasses ruptured, and poured out over the streets of Boston.  In some places, the stream was 9 m deep; pedestrians and horses were killed, and buildings were knocked down.  (This is true!)

Suppose a cylindrical tank (height 21.8 m, diameter 6.38 m) was full of molasses(specific gravity 6.36).  Find the magnitude of the total force exerted by the molasses on the bottom of the tank before it broke.   

Answer 1

Given data,

Dimensions of cylindrical tank,

height, h = 21.8 m

diameter = 6.38 m => radius, r= 3.19 m

Specific gravity of molasses = 6.36

Then density of molasses = Specific gravity of molasses density of water

=6.36 1000 kg/m3  = 6360  kg/m3  

Volume of the cylinder =

total force exerted by the molasses on the bottom of the tank before it broke ,F = m g

= density volume g

= 43482434.90174 N