# In which bucket , should the water fill it up first?

Here , we have two water filters and buckets .

Now , we know that as the water falls down , it’s speed increases because of acceleration due to gravity.

Let us say I started both the filters and once the water reaches the bottom of both the buckets.of course , water from 2nd filter would have had reached first at the surface of 2nd bucket.

Assume that exactly when the water touches the bucket form both the filters. Only then , I start the timer. Now , I am recording or noting the time it is taken by both filters to fill the bucket.

Volume is same of both buckets.

The Q is : Which bucket will fill up first ?

I think both the buckets would fill up at the same time.

Now , I also noticed as the water keeps on dripping at longer heights. There is a separation between water molecules present. You can see most of the water at below the tap and it’s amount kind of like looks fo reduce as you go down.

This is what confused me. From this observation , I think 2nd bucket should fill up faster than the 1st one.

Why ? Because if I imagine the separation between the bucket and water at an extreme level. Then , I can see like drops filling up the bucket and not like a stream of flowing water.

Is this correct ? Also , I’m not getting how should I write an equation for this.

I did research about it. It says that :

A decrease in temperature caused the water molecules to lose energy and slow down, which results in water molecules that are closer together and a decrease in water volume. When water is heated, it expands, or increases in volume. When water increases in volume, it becomes less dense.

Therefore , can I say my observation is true only depending on the temperature?

• Homework or exam question? Jun 11 at 17:30
• No. Just I observed when I was filling up my water bottle. Jun 11 at 17:31
• I was wondering would water fill first if kept on slab or if I hold my bottle near to the tap. Jun 11 at 17:31
• in the left stream, measure the volume of water in the section between the top of the left container and the top of the right container ... that is the volume of water that is required to top off the left container at the instant when the right container becomes filled Jun 11 at 19:49
• Regarding the "separation of water molecules", that's called the Plateau-Rayleigh instability and it doesn't have much to do with molecules per se, it works just as well in continuum. It's purely a consequence of surface tension. Jun 14 at 10:06

IMHO (note its an opinion) in both cases the cup will fill at the same time.

The reason is that the flow rate is controlled by the top vessel. Let's say it is $$\dot m$$.

However, $$\dot m = v\cdot A$$

where:

• A is the cross-section
• v is the velocity

In a unit of time, a packet of water $$\Delta m$$ released in time $$\Delta t$$ is stretched.

However, the bottom and top should arrive at the same time.

figure 1: pouring oil (source: vectorstock)

The basic idea is that:

• every $$dt$$ a packet of fluid is released (assuming it starts at $$t_0$$)
• the first edge of the package will reach the cup after $$t_f$$.
• The first edge of the next packet will reach the cup after $$t_f + dt$$.

## consider splashing

if you take into account the drop that are spilled from the cup because of the high speed then its no contest, the 2nd cup fills quicker..

• Are you indicating A is a variable as well as the velocities of the flows?
– r13
Jun 11 at 19:07