Suppose you have a very long straw that can reach from a cup of water on the ground level to the top of a

very tall building. When you use a pump to suck on the straw in order to bring water up,
a. you can bring the water up to any height with no problem.
b. you can bring the water up to only a maximum height in the straw, when the pressure of
the water column is approximately equal to the atmospheric pressure.
c. you can bring the water up to only a certain height in the straw, because after it will flash
freeze in the cup.
d. you cannot bring the water up by more than a few inches.

(b)

by sucking you are creating a vacuum in the top of the straw. When the air pressure cannot push the water up that high, it stops rising.

That's what a barometer is: a sealed straw with a vacuum at the top.

The correct answer is b. You can bring the water up to only a maximum height in the straw, when the pressure of the water column is approximately equal to the atmospheric pressure.

To understand why this is the case, we need to consider the principles of physics behind it. When you suck on the straw, you create a partial vacuum in the space above the water in the straw, which decreases the air pressure in that area. This reduction in pressure allows atmospheric pressure to push the water up the straw.

However, there is a limit to how high the water can be lifted. This limit is determined by the balance between the weight of the water column and the atmospheric pressure pushing down on the water surface outside the straw.

As you increase the height of the straw, the weight of the water column also increases. Eventually, the weight of the water column becomes too great for the reduced atmospheric pressure to overcome, and the water can no longer be lifted any higher. At this point, the pressure of the water column is approximately equal to the atmospheric pressure.

This maximum height that the water can be lifted to is commonly referred to as the "maximum suction lift." It will depend on factors like the atmospheric pressure (which can vary depending on altitude and weather conditions) and the strength of the suction created by the pump.

It's worth noting that reaching a certain height does not guarantee that the water will reach the top of the building. There are additional factors at play, such as friction, the length and diameter of the straw, and the efficiency of the pump. These factors can cause some loss of pressure and limit the effective height that the water can be lifted.