Archimedes principle and floating slab

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion involves two separate problems related to fluid mechanics: one concerning a styrofoam slab floating in water with a swimmer aboard, and the other involving water jets from holes in a cooler tank. The first problem focuses on applying Archimedes' principle, while the second problem relates to the dynamics of fluid flow and pressure differences.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of pressure and density in the context of buoyancy for the slab problem, with some expressing uncertainty about incorporating the swimmer's weight. Others suggest using Archimedes' principle as a more straightforward approach.
  • In the tank problem, participants are exploring Bernoulli's equation to relate pressure differences to fluid velocity, with some confusion about how to apply the equation correctly to find the height of the water level in the tank.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the use of Archimedes' principle and Bernoulli's equation, suggesting approaches to calculate the necessary parameters. However, there remains a lack of consensus on the correct application of these principles, and several participants express ongoing confusion about their respective problems.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under constraints typical of homework assignments, which may limit the information available or the methods they can use. There is also an emphasis on understanding the relationships between pressure, velocity, and height in fluid dynamics, which is central to both problems.

ness9660
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A styrofoam slab has a thickness of 12.6 cm
and a density of 470 kg/m 3 . What is the area
of the slab if it floats just awash (top of slab
is even with the water surface) in fresh water
when a 65.7 kg swimmer is aboard? Answer
in units of m 2 .

im trying to use pressure=density of water times thickness of slab times 9.8 and mass=density of water times thickness of slab times area

i think I am on the correct path here but I am sure as how to account for the force of the person on the slab in these equations




A tall water cooler tank is standing on the
floor. Some fool punched two small holes
in the tank's wall, one hole at a height of
34 cm above the floor and the other hole
60 cm directly above the first hole and 94 cm
above the floor. Each hole produces a jet of
water that emerges in a horizontal direction
but eventually hits the floor at some distance
from the tank.
If the two water jets (emerging from each
hole) hit the floor at exactly the same spot,
how high H is the water level in the tank
(relative to the room's floor)? Answer in
units of cm.


i can't even find the correct equations to use for this problem, can anyone offer some help
 
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ness9660 said:
A styrofoam slab has a thickness of 12.6 cm
and a density of 470 kg/m 3 . What is the area
of the slab if it floats just awash (top of slab
is even with the water surface) in fresh water
when a 65.7 kg swimmer is aboard? Answer
in units of m 2 .

im trying to use pressure=density of water times thickness of slab times 9.8 and mass=density of water times thickness of slab times area

i think I am on the correct path here but I am sure as how to account for the force of the person on the slab in these equations

Yours is not the easiest approach. Use Archimiedes principle
 
ness9660 said:
A tall water cooler tank is standing on the
floor. Some fool punched two small holes
in the tank's wall, one hole at a height of
34 cm above the floor and the other hole
60 cm directly above the first hole and 94 cm
above the floor. Each hole produces a jet of
water that emerges in a horizontal direction
but eventually hits the floor at some distance
from the tank.
If the two water jets (emerging from each
hole) hit the floor at exactly the same spot,
how high H is the water level in the tank
(relative to the room's floor)? Answer in
units of cm.


i can't even find the correct equations to use for this problem, can anyone offer some help

Do you have Bernouilli's Equation relating the velocity change of a fluid to the pressure difference?
 
OlderDan said:
Yours is not the easiest approach. Use Archimiedes principle


ah, I've figured it out, area = Mass / Thickness * (density of water - density of slab)


im still pretty lost on the second problem.
 
OlderDan said:
Do you have Bernouilli's Equation relating the velocity change of a fluid to the pressure difference?


P1 + qgh1 + ½qv1 = P2 + qgh2 + 1/2qv2


im just confused on how to use it relating to this problem. p1 and p2 are the initial pressures on the holes, i think, so p1 = 1000 times 9.8 times 34 and p2= 1000 times 9.8 times 60

but then you plug these in and solve for h, correct, where h would be the height of the water level in the tank

edit; ah you solve for v instead in the above equation
 
You should be able to use this equation to get the initial velocity of each water jet leaving the tank. For each jet individually you have no height difference, a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the tank, and essentially zero velocity in the tank. When you get your two initial velocities for the two holes you have two projectiles hitting the ground in the same place.

While inside the tank, you have essentially no velocity and the pressure difference is related to the height difference
 
Last edited:
OlderDan said:
You should be able to use this equation to get the initial velocity of each water jet leaving the tank. For each jet individually you have no height difference, a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the tank, and essentially zero velocity in the tank. When you get your two initial velocities for the two holes you have two projectiles hitting the ground in the same place.

While inside the tank, you have essentially no velocity and the pressure difference is related to the height difference

ugh, nothing I am doing is coming out right for this. for p1 and p2 I am putting in h times g times 1000, filling in ½qv1 with 1/2 times 1000 times v1, and qgh with 1000 times 9,8 times height on tank.

this is just not coming out right at all
 
It sounds to me like you are working in the wrong direction. The first thing you need to do is figure out how long it takes a drop of water to reach the floor from the height of each hole. From that you can calculate the relative horizontal velocity of the two jets of water. From there I think you can find the pressure ratio inside the tank at the two holes, and I know you can find the pressure difference. Knowing both of those will get you to the answer.
 

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