Question

The outward force on one end of an air tank was calculated in Example 11.2. How is this force balanced? (The tank does not accelerate, so the force must be balanced.)?

Short answer

The reaction force from walls will balance the applied force.

Step-by-step solution

Describing the scenario

The force applied by the air molecules on the walls of the container has been calculated with the given value of pressure and area. This force is the product of the pressure and area at the end of the cylinder.

Finding how force is balanced

Every action has its own reaction.The applied force has to be balanced, otherwise, an explosion will occur. This is balanced by the force applied to air molecules by the walls of the container. The magnitude of this force will also be equal to the magnitude of the force applied to the end walls of the cylinder.

Thus, the force is balanced by the applied force of the walls.