Two identical cylindrical vessels contain liquids: one contains mercury, the other contains water.

Two identical cylindrical vessels contain liquids: one contains mercury, the other contains water. the hydrostatic pressure exerted by liquids on the bottom of the vessels is the same and equal to 1.2 atm. the bottom area of each vessel is 100 cm2. determine: a) the height of the columns of liquids in the vessels. b) pressure on the bottom of the vessel with mercury if the contents of the second vessel (water) are poured into it

The hydrostatic pressure of a liquid is determined from Pascal’s law:
p = ρ * g * h,
Where
p = 1.2 atm = 1.2 * 10 ^ 5 Pa – pressure at the bottom of the vessel,
ρ1 = 1000kg / m ^ 3 – water density,
ρ2 = 136000kg / m ^ 3 – density of mercury,
g = 10m / s ^ 2 – acceleration of gravity,
and h is the height of the liquid in the vessel.
From here
h = p / (ρ * g);
h1 = p / (ρ1 * g) = 1.2 * 10 ^ 5 / (1000 * 10) = 12m;
h2 = p / (ρ2 * g) = 1.2 * 10 ^ 5 / (136000 * 10) = 0.882m;
If water is poured into a vessel with mercury, then the water in it will have the same height as in its own vessel and will exert the same pressure on the mercury as on the bottom of the vessel – 1.2 atm. This means that the pressure on the bottom of the vessel with mercury will simply double:
p = 2.4 atm.