L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Unit 4: Activity Sheet 4.5

Pressure
Tutor guidance notes
Aims and objectives At the end of activities 4.5A and 4.5B, learners should be able to: demonstrate an understanding of capillary action state the principles of siphonage describe examples of siphonage commonly found in domestic plumbing systems describe water flow and its effects.

The activity is divided into two parts: a set of questions (activity 4.5A) followed by a multiple-choice exercise (activity 4.5B). They are not intended as formal assessment. However, the answers should be discussed with learners as a group to ensure they fully understand the topic. The activity can be used in different ways, for example: during the session, either individually or in pairs, as a to-the-point learning tool at the end of a session to recap learning as homework.

Activity 4.5B could be used at the beginning of a subsequent session to link with prior learning. Whichever teaching method is chosen, it is advisable to set and agree a completion date for each activity.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Unit 4: Activity Sheet 4.5

Activity 4.5A Pressure
Answer the following questions.
1 Complete the definitions of the terms shown in the table below. Term Capillary action Definition The process by which a liquid is drawn or hauled up through a small gap between the surfaces of two materials. The way in which water molecules cling together to form a very thin skin. The force of attraction between water molecules and the sides of the vessel the water is contained in. The slightly curved skin that appears when water is held in a vessel.

Surface tension Adhesion

Meniscus

Workshop-based investigation: Set up the simple experiment below to show the effect of capillary action.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Step 1: Fill a bowl with water. Collect several glass tubes with bores of varying sizes. Step 2: Place each tube vertically in the water, one at a time. Step 3: Observe what happens to the water inside the tubes. Measure the rise that takes place. Step 4: Think about the conclusions you can draw from this experiment. Write a brief report about what you observed, suggesting reasons for what took place. Learners own answer. 3 Explain what is happening in this diagram.

The siphon uses atmospheric pressure to operate. A quantity of water is forced through a short leg of pipe (column A) and over the crown of the siphon. The weight of the water in the longer leg (column B), under positive pressure, is greater than in column A. The water continues to flow owing to the difference in weight.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Give examples of where we use siphonage in plumbing systems and in our work? Siphonic WC pan; WC flushing siphon; siphoning the contents of a hot water storage cylinder using a hose pipe.

You have been asked to install a new bath at a property that has galvanised LCS pipework throughout. The choice of pipework materials is copper, polybutylene or LCS. Which pipework material would give the best flow rate? Why? Which would give the worst flow rate? Why? Polybutylene would give the best flowrate, as it has smooth pipe walls. LCS would give the worst flowrate, as it has rough inside walls. The rate of water flow through pipework is affected by friction. When water flows through rough pipe walls, the rate of friction increases and the flow is reduced.

b You have a bag of fittings, elbows and tees left over from a previous job. Is it acceptable to use elbows and tees, or should you use machine bends. Why? The use of knuckle bends, or elbows, provides a greater resistance to the flow of water than the use of manufactured machine bends. Therefore, you should use machine bends as much as possible. 6 In the diagram below, what is gap C for?

C is an anti-capillarity groove to prevent capillary action.

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Activity 4.5B Pressure

Circle the correct answer in each of the questions below. 1 What are the principles behind capillary action? a Adhesion and tension b Cohesion and tension c Cohesion and adhesion d Tension and siphonage 2 Capillary action is increased if: a Materials are closer together. b Materials are further apart. c Water is acidic. d Water is alkaline. 3 What does siphonage depend on? a Atmospheric pressure b Water temperature c Capillary action d The height of the cistern 4 Where would you find an anti-capillarity groove? a On a single-trap siphonic WC b Inside an S bend discharge pipe c Inside a cistern d Between a splash lap and an overcoat on a lead roof

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L2 Plumbing Unit 4 Apply scientific principles within mechanical services engineering

Water flow would encounter the most frictional resistance from a pipe made of: a PVC. b copper. c polypropylene. d LCS.

Capillary action can be found in: a straps. b boilers. c Kendal. d siphons.

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