Why are hoops closer together near the bottom of the tank?

The correct answer emphasizes that water pressure increases with depth due to the weight of the water above. As you go deeper into a tank filled with water, the pressure exerted by the column of water increases. This greater pressure at the bottom pushes the hoops closer together.

In a situation where hoops or supports are used within a tank, a design that accounts for the pressure differential helps ensure stability and that the structure can handle the forces acting on it. Thus, it is logical for the spacing of hoops to vary, being more closely spaced at the bottom where the pressure is highest.

Understanding this concept is crucial because it relates to fluid mechanics and how pressure behaves in a static fluid, which can be essential knowledge in various engineering and physics scenarios.