Pipes and Cisterns: Tank Filling/Emptying Logic A pipe system can be viewed as a sequence of interconnected tanks and pipes. When one tank is filled or empti...
A pipe system can be viewed as a sequence of interconnected tanks and pipes. When one tank is filled or emptied, it affects the flow of water in the entire system.
Understanding the logic:
The amount of water flowing into a tank is called the input and the amount of water flowing out is called the output.
As water flows between tanks, it either fills up or empties a corresponding tank. This affects the overall water level.
In a closed system, the total amount of water in the system remains constant. This means that the input and output must always be equal.
If the input is greater than the output, water continuously enters the target tank until the input equals the output.
If the output is greater than the input, water continuously flows out of the target tank until the output equals the input.
Pipes act as channels for water flow, while cisterns are large containers that store water. By understanding the relationships between pipes and cisterns, we can predict how water will behave in a system.
Examples:
If two tanks are connected by a pipe with a one-way valve, and the input is 10 L and the output is 5 L, the water level in the receiving tank will increase by 5 L.
If a tank has an input of 10 L and an output of 5 L, and the pipe is closed, the water level in the receiving tank will remain constant at 10 L.
If two tanks are connected by a pipe with a two-way valve, and the input is 10 L and the output is 6 L, the water level in the receiving tank will increase by 4 L