A hydraulic press contains 0.25 m3 (250 L) of oil. Find the decrease in volume of the oil (in %) when it is subjected to a pressure increase Δp=1.6×107. The bulk modulus of the oil is B=5.0×109 Pa.

B=−ΔpΔV/V0ΔV=−V0ΔpB=−0.25m31.6×107Pa5.0×109Pa =−8.0×10−4m3=−0.80LEven through the pressure increase is very large, the fractional change in volume is very small.∴ ΔV/V0=−8.0×10−4m3/0.25m3=−0.0032 or 0.32%