[Physics] Two connected syringes filled with water: What happens when the plunger is moved outwards

fluid dynamicshome-experimentpressure

Suppose we have two syringes — both in the halfway position — filled with water and connected by a tube (there is no air in the system, only water).

If we push one of the syringe plungers in, then the other syringe's plunger will move outward. I'm content with this

What happens if I pull out one of the syringe plungers though? Would the other plunger move in?

  • If the extra volume I have introduced was filled with air, then I think maybe nothing would happen, since the air would maybe keep the pressure the same?
  • But since there is no air in the system, I think this would introduce a vacuum, at which point I don't know what happens. One thought is that pressure in the syringe whose plunger I pulled out would have to decrease (since the volume has increased), but I don't know whether this would move in the other plunger.

So to state the question once more: Suppose two plungers are connected as described in the first paragraph. If we pull one of the plungers out, what happens to the plunger of the other syringe, and why does this happen? (i.e. if a force is being exerted what is causing this force?

Best Answer

If you pull one plunger out by some small amount (delta L) this asserts a low pressure on the fluid throughout the system. Atmospheric pressure then pushes on the outside of the piston in the other syringe, and the net effect is the transfer of a volume of liquid in the amount (piston area x delta L) from the one syringe into the other that you are pulling on.

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