The radius of a cylindrical cistern is $10 \text{ metres}$ and its height is $15 \text{ metres}$. Initially the cistern is empty. We start filling the cistern with water through a pipe whose diameter is $50 \text{ cm}$. Water is coming out of the pipe with a velocity of $5 \text{ m/sec}$. How many minutes will it take in filling the cistern with water?
Aptitude
Volume and Surface Area
Difficulty: Medium
Choose an option
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A20
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B40
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C60
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D80
Answer
Correct Answer: 80
Explanation
### Concept & Flow Rate Time
To find the total time required to fill a tank, divide the total volume of the tank by the volumetric flow rate of the incoming pipe.
$$\text{Time} = \frac{\text{Volume of Tank}}{\text{Cross-Sectional Area of Pipe} \times \text{Flow Velocity}}$$
### Step-by-Step Solution
1. **Calculate the volume of the cylindrical cistern:**
- Radius $R = 10 \text{ m}$, Height $H = 15 \text{ m}$.
- $V_{\text{cistern}} = \pi R^2 H = \pi (10)^2 (15) = 1500\pi \text{ m}^3$.
2. **Calculate the volumetric flow rate of the pipe:**
- Pipe diameter $= 50 \text{ cm} = 0.5 \text{ m} \Rightarrow$ Pipe radius $r = 0.25 \text{ m} = \frac{1}{4} \text{ m}$.
- Pipe cross-sectional area $= \pi r^2 = \pi \left(\frac{1}{4}\right)^2 = \frac{\pi}{16} \text{ m}^2$.
- Flow velocity $v = 5 \text{ m/s}$.
- Flow rate $= \text{Area} \times \text{Velocity} = \left(\frac{\pi}{16}\right) \times 5 = \frac{5\pi}{16} \text{ m}^3\text{/s}$.
3. **Calculate the total time in seconds:**
- $\text{Time in seconds} = \frac{1500\pi}{\frac{5\pi}{16}}$
- $\text{Time} = \frac{1500\pi \times 16}{5\pi} = 300 \times 16 = 4800 \text{ seconds}$.
4. **Convert seconds to minutes:**
- $\text{Time in minutes} = \frac{4800}{60} = 80 \text{ minutes}$.
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
Keep $\pi$ in your equations as a symbol; do not substitute $\frac{22}{7}$ or $3.14$, because it will perfectly cancel out when you divide the tank volume by the flow rate.
### Common Pitfall
A typical error is failing to convert the pipe's diameter from centimeters ($50 \text{ cm}$) to meters ($0.5 \text{ m}$) before plugging it into the area equation, leading to massive magnitude errors.
### Final Answer
Therefore, the correct answer is **80**.