How to Solve a Buoyancy Problem

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a buoyancy problem involving a crown weighed in air and submerged in water. Participants analyze the forces acting on the crown and explore calculations related to buoyant force, volume, and density.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of buoyant force and its relation to the volume and density of the crown. There are attempts to clarify the equations used for determining density and buoyant force, with some questioning the necessity of certain variables.

Discussion Status

Several participants express agreement with the calculations presented. There is a recognition of the correctness of the buoyant force and volume calculations, while also noting alternative approaches to calculating density. The conversation reflects a collaborative effort to verify and clarify the original poster's work.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the density of gold as a point of comparison, indicating uncertainty about the original poster's conclusion regarding the material of the crown. There is also a note about the conversion between cubic meters and cubic centimeters, highlighting a potential area of confusion.

new324
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Buoyancy problem, please check my work :)

Can you check my work here?

A crown is weighed in air and submerged in water. The scale reads 7.84 N in air and 6.86 N in water.
find (a) the buoyant force (b) the volume of the crown (c) the density of the crown (d) is the crown made of gold?

(a) 7.84-6.86=.98 N
(b) buoyant force=Volume(submerged object)*density(liquid) *gravity
so .98=v*1000*9.8 V=.0001 m^3 (=.1 cm^3)
(c) Density Object= (Weight object/buoyant Force)*Density Liquid
p=(7.84/.98)1000 ;p=8000 kg/m^3
(d) I'm not sure the density of gold, I think its more than double this density though. So No, the crown is not made of Gold.

Thanks for any help!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Looks good to me! :smile:

Quick search shows that "A cubic centimetre of gold will weighs 19.3 grams" so that makes the gold density 19,300 kg/m3.

By the way, you don't have to use this equation to find the object density:

[tex]\rho _o = \frac{W_o}{B}\rho _l[/tex]

It's correct but the dependency on the density of the liquid is not needed, since:

[tex]B\rho _o = W_o\rho _l[/tex]

[tex]\rho _lv_og\rho _o = m_og\rho _l[/tex]

So the liquid density cancels and you get:

[tex]v_o\rho _o = m_o[/tex]

Which is (amazingly :-p) exactly the definition of mass density. :smile: You have the object's mass, since you know its weight in air.
 
Last edited:
Looks good to me.
new324 said:
(a) 7.84-6.86=.98 N
Right.
(b) buoyant force=Volume(submerged object)*density(liquid) *gravity
so .98=v*1000*9.8 V=.0001 m^3 (=.1 cm^3)
Right. (But 1 m^3 = 1,000,000 cm^3)
(c) Density Object= (Weight object/buoyant Force)*Density Liquid
p=(7.84/.98)1000 ;p=8000 kg/m^3
Right. Though I'm used to the simpler "Density = Mass/Volume", what you've done is equivalent.
(d) I'm not sure the density of gold, I think its more than double this density though. So No, the crown is not made of Gold.
Right. The density of gold is about 19,300 Kg/m^3

Note: Chen, you beat me again! :mad:
 
Tsk tsk. :wink:
 
Chen said:
Tsk tsk. :wink:
I'm getting old and slow, I guess. :biggrin:
 
We both even said "Looks good to me". :-p

mmmkay, enough monkey business now, got to get back to studying Bible again. :frown:
 
Awesome. Thanks a lot Chen and Doc Al. It's a great thing when people compete over helping you first. Haha. :biggrin: Thanks again.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
981
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K