If a compound gauge reads 15 inches of vacuum, to what height will the water rise in the suction hose?

A compound gauge measures pressure and vacuum levels. In this case, if the gauge reads 15 inches of vacuum, it indicates that the atmospheric pressure is being reduced by that amount.

To determine the height to which water will rise in the suction hose, it's important to recognize that water can be lifted by a vacuum up to a maximum height of approximately 33.9 feet at sea level due to atmospheric pressure. However, this value must be adjusted based on the gauge reading.

When the gauge shows 15 inches of vacuum, it means that there is 15 inches less pressure than atmospheric pressure. To find out how high the water will rise, we need to subtract the vacuum measurement from the maximum lifting height of water.

1. Convert 15 inches of vacuum to feet: 15 inches divided by 12 inches per foot equals 1.25 feet.

2. Now, subtract this value from the maximum height (33.9 feet): 33.9 feet - 1.25 feet = 32.65 feet.

However, the value needs to be reconsidered. In practical terms, often the focus is on how much lower the vacuum pulls water up, typically measured in feet of head rather than the maximum theoretical lift. Under