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
Depth of sea h=3×103m Maximum stress =109Pa Density of water ρ=103kg/m3 Pressure exerted by a water column of depth 3 km P=hρg =3×103×103×9.8 =2.94×107Pa This pressure is less than the maximum stress of 109Pa; so the structure is suitable
