Question

A vertical off-shore structure is built to withstand a maximum stress of 10⁹ Pa. Is the structure suitable for putting up on top of an oil well in the ocean? Take the depth of the ocean to be roughly 3 km, and ignore ocean currents.

Answer 1

The depth of ocean,

h = 3 km = 3000 m

Density of water = 1000 kg m^-3 (assumed);

g = 9.8 kg m^-2

Pressure (p) = 1000 x 9.8 x 3000 = 2.94 x 10⁷ Pa

This value of pressure is less than the stress of 10⁹ Pa which the structure can with stand. Therefore, the structure may be suitable.