Question:
Two vessels have the same base area but different shapes. The first vessel takes twice the volume of water that the second vessel requires to fill upto a particular common height. Is the force exerted by the water on the base of the vessel the same in the two cases ? If so, why do the vessels filled with water to that same height give different readings on a weighing scale ?
Answer:
Since the pressure depends on the height of the water column in the two vessels of different shapes is the same. It is due to water on the base of each vessel is same. It is expected that there will be equal force acting on the two base areas. The water exerts force on walls of the vessel also. In case, the walls of the vessel are not perpendicular to the base, the force exerted by water on the walls has a net non zero vertical component which is more in first vessel than that second vessel. That is why, the two vessels filled with water to same Vertical height show different readings on a weighing machine.
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