A Leaky Bathtub - competing rates & equilibrium
If water comes into a leaky bathtub at a constant rate
and leaks out a rate proportional to the height of the
water in the tub, then an equilibrium depth of water in the tub can be reached.
You can use this applet to explore how the equilibrium depth depends
on the rate of flow into and the rate of flow out of the tub.
Clearly, the leaky bathtub is a metaphor for many equilibrium situations
that arise because of competing rates. Can you think of others?
You can watch an animation by clicking on the "play" icon in the lower
left hand corner of either window.