Broken Valve Spring

[patrickt]

The page I referenced gives a wonderful example, including the math, but an easy way to visualize the difference is to think of a thimble full of air at x pressure and imagine how easy it would be to hold your thumb over it. Now take the same pressure and have it inside a barrel. Do you think the strength necessary to hold the lid of the barrel down is the same as the thimble even though the pressure is the same?

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by patrickt

The page I referenced gives a wonderful example, including the math, but an easy way to visualize the difference is to think of a thimble full of air at x pressure and imagine how easy it would be to hold your thumb over it. Now take the same pressure and have it inside a barrel. Do you think the strength necessary to hold the lid of the barrel down is the same as the thimble even though the pressure is the same?

Hmm, I have to ponder over this one for a bit.