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Science

How do I work out...

Can some one please tell me how I work out how much water 15 meters of 1/2 inch copper tube will hold. Thanks.


claymore  Mon 25/08/08 07:34
Hymie
Mon 25/08/08
08:58
You will need to know (measure) the internal diameter of the pipe.

Assume it to be 10mm (D=10mm) – the internal cross sectional area is given by:-
2 x π x r x r = 2 x 3.142 x 0.005 x 0.005 = 0.000157 square metres
Multiply this by the length of the tube (15) to give a volume of 0.002355 cubic metres, or 2.355 litres.

It is early in the morning, so perhaps someone could check my maths.
RoaldoM
Mon 25/08/08
10:03
A simpler formula is pi r2 h

3.142 x 6(radius of inside of pipe assuming wall thickness of 1.5mm) squared x height(in your case 15000mm) = 1696680cubic mm, or 1.69 litres.
gen2
Mon 25/08/08
10:26
Yes Hymie, there is a flaw in your maths. You have multiplied by a 2 that shouldn't be there. I think you have confused Pi r squared (area) with 2 Pi r (circimference).

Hymie
Mon 25/08/08
11:18
My excuse that it was early in the morning, was just an excuse for the fact that I’m useless at maths.
mibn2cweus
Mon 25/08/08
18:18
. . . no big. I too often miscalculate after a long night of extended overtime at the neighborhood nuke plant
rov1200
Mon 25/08/08
22:33
Weigh the tube empty. Then fill up tube with water and weigh again. Subtract the first calculation from the second. This will give the nett weight of water. Or a simpler method is to take a shorter length of pipe and scale up.
wildwood
Mon 25/08/08
23:06
Mmm... I make it 1.9 litres, assuming that the inside diameter of a 1/2" pipe is 9mm. ... but then.... I support Labour so....
mibn2cweus
Tue 26/08/08
06:37
. . . I get a volume of 0.95 litre for an id of 9mm?

Most copper tubing designated as "1/2 inch" will have an inside diameter equal to or exceeding 1/2 inch which varies with wall thickness and is not necessarily consistent along its length. Therefore I have assumed a 1/2 inch inside diameter for the following discussion:

Volume pertains to a three dimensional space as within a box, sphere or other containment. For a circle, (the cross section of tubing) the two dimensional area subsumed can be found by multiplying the radius (half the inside diameter) by the radius and multiplying the product (r²) by pi (π = ~ 3.1416). Multiplying this by the third dimension, (length), specifies the volume.

First convert dimensions to common (equivalent) units

1/2 inch diameter = 1.27 cm (centimeters)
15 metres length = 1500 cm

Plug variables into the formula for volume of a cylinder:

π x radius² x length = volume

(remember that radius = diameter / 2)

π x 0.635cm² x 1500cm = 1900cm³ = 1.9 litres

Your “1/2 inch” copper tubing might hold more or less water than that. Given the inconsistency of copper tubing interiors I found rov’s methods worthy of serious consideration . . . or you could fill the tube and drain the water into a measuring beaker.
wildwood
Tue 26/08/08
23:14
Would someone please help me to point out where I've gone wrong. Using above formula I get 3.1416 x 1.27 = 3.99cm (circumference of circle) x 0.635 (radius) = 2.53cm (square cm circle area) x 1500 = 3800 cubic cm = 3.8 litres. Grr... I seem to end up with double of mibsies result.
I couldn't give a hoot about a cylinder's volume before this Q, but now it is driving me crazy.
wildwood
Wed 27/08/08
04:13
Got it thanks. I forgot to square the radius.

Sorry to have hi-jacked your thread claymore.
mibn2cweus
Wed 27/08/08
06:17
The volume (three dimensional space) of a rectangle is equal to the area of one face (any face will do) times its extention in the third dimension.
volume = (height x width) x depth

For a cylinder the face corresponds to the two dimensional area of the cross-section (a circle). Multiply this by the extension in the third dimension, height (or length) gives the volume.

The area subsumed by a circle equals pi x radius x radius or π r²


Remember this: The area of a circle equals π r squared

No! π r'nt squared. π r round. Cornbread r squared!


don’t mind me
New Judge
Thurs 28/08/08
10:51
Just out of interest claymore, why do you want to know?????
north star
Thurs 28/08/08
15:25
(The bore diameter of what is referred to 1/2" pipe is typically ca 15 mm but it does vary depending on the standard, copper, stainless steel, medium or heavy weight mild steel. Hence if an accurate figure is required best to measure)
claymore
Fri 29/08/08
08:24

Question Author

New judge , I have built a solar hot water heater using the said 15 mtrs of copper tubing , just wondering if it would hold enough water for a good cuppa.
New Judge
Fri 29/08/08
09:43
Thanks claymore.

I'm just a curious (some say nosey) old ******!

Incidentally, I make it 1.7 litres as well (pi times the radiius (6mm) squared times 15 metres).

So enough for about three decent sized mugs.

The only problem I see is that I cannot imagine the heater will raise the temperature of the water to a sufficient level to brew the tea. Ideally it should be boiling. If it does perchance approach boiling you will have trouble with expansion etc. and may have to install a safety device or an expansion vessel.

You might have to settle for instant coffee or cocoa.
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