A closed cubical chamber resting on the floor contains oil and a piston.If you push down on the piston hard enough to increase the pressure just below the piston by an amount Δp,which of the following statements is correct? (There could be more than one correct choice.)
A)The pressure everywhere in the oil will increase by Δp.
B)The pressure at the bottom of the oil will increase by more than Δp.
C)The pressure at the top of the oil will increase by less than Δp.
D)The pressure on the sides of the chamber will not increase.
E)The increase in the force exerted on the top of the chamber will be the same as the increase in the force exerted on the bottom of the chamber.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a fluid at rest in a closed container, a change in pressure at any point is transmitted undiminished in all directions throughout the fluid, according to Pascal's principle. Therefore, if the pressure just below the piston increases by Δp, the pressure everywhere in the oil will also increase by Δp (choice A). Since the pressure increase is transmitted equally throughout the oil, the increase in force exerted on the top of the chamber will be the same as the increase in force exerted on the bottom of the chamber, assuming the chamber is rigid and does not deform (choice E).

A Closed Cubical Chamber Resting on the Floor Contains Oil