Calculating Buoyant Force for Submerged Materials

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the buoyant force acting on a cubic meter block of material with a mass of 8600 kg when submerged in water. Participants explore the relevant equations and concepts related to buoyancy and fluid displacement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the formula for buoyant force and the need to determine the displacement volume. Questions arise about how to calculate this volume and the appropriate units to use in the calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the relationship between the volume of the submerged object and the volume of fluid displaced. There is an ongoing exploration of unit consistency and the implications for calculating buoyant force.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of using standard units for density and volume in calculations, as well as the assumption that the volume of the submerged object is equal to the volume of fluid displaced.

astru025
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Homework Statement



A cubic meter of some material has a mass of 8600 kg. The block of material is lowered into a lake by a strong cable until the block is completely submerged. What is the buoyant force on the block?

Homework Equations



Fb=p x V x g. P= density of fluid, density of water = 1000 kg/m^3. V=displacement volume. THIS IS WHERE I NEED HELP. How do I find the displacement volume? I have looked everywhere in my notes and can't come up with it. g= 9.8 m/s^2

The Attempt at a Solution


1000 x V?? x 9.8
Need help finding V! Thanks so much.
 
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astru025 said:

Homework Statement



A cubic meter of some material has a mass of 8600 kg. The block of material is lowered into a lake by a strong cable until the block is completely submerged. What is the buoyant force on the block?

Homework Equations



Fb=p x V x g. P= density of fluid, density of water = 1000 kg/m^3. V=displacement volume. THIS IS WHERE I NEED HELP. How do I find the displacement volume? I have looked everywhere in my notes and can't come up with it. g= 9.8 m/s^2

The Attempt at a Solution


1000 x V?? x 9.8
Need help finding V! Thanks so much.
$$F_{b}=ρ.V.g$$
here ##V## is the volume of part of the object immersed in water, in this case object is fully submerged. You already know what ##ρ## and ##g## is. I hope this helps!
 
So to find V would I use this equation: D=m/v. D= 1g/cm^3. M= 8600 kg. 1= 8600/V. V= 8600. Is this correct! Please answer back!
 
astru025 said:
So to find V would I use this equation: D=m/v. D= 1g/cm^3. M= 8600 kg. 1= 8600/V. V= 8600. Is this correct! Please answer back!

Numbers without units are meaningless, always indicate the units. Look always try to use standard units for calculation, other wise error creeps unknowingly sometimes. If you check carefully your units in answer of volume, units would be ##\frac{cm^3.kg}{g}##. Make adjustments so that units of mass cancel out. This is either ways not what you need to do.

Your question has already mentioned what the volume is:
A cubic meter of some material has a mass of 8600 kg.
 
My final answer for buoyant force needs to be in Newtons. So right now I have 1 g/cm^3 x V x 9.8 m/s^2. My value for V= 8600 kg?? So then my buoyant force would be 84820 g/cm^3 x kg x m/s^2? Is this correct. Or do I change 1 g/cm^3 to 1000 kg/m^3..
 
astru025 said:
My final answer for buoyant force needs to be in Newtons. So right now I have 1 g/cm^3 x V x 9.8 m/s^2. My value for V= 8600 kg?? So then my buoyant force would be 84820 g/cm^3 x kg x m/s^2? Is this correct. Or do I change 1 g/cm^3 to 1000 kg/m^3..

In what units volume is measured?...Think hard and answer.

I believe you didn't read the question nor my post carefully, or you have some doubt about the equation itself!
$$F_{b}=ρ.V.g$$
What does the variables in the above equation represent?

Edit: For force to be in Newtons, mass should be in ##kg## and volume in ##m^3##. Whenever you use a equation try to be consistent with the units, for example in the same equation you used ##\frac{g}{cm^3}## for density and ##kg## for mass, you should use same units of mass so that units of mass cancels out completely. Hence you should have used ##\frac{kg}{cm^3}## or ##\frac{kg}{m^3}## to cancel unit of mass or vice-versa.
 
Last edited:
p= density of fluid V=displaced volume and g= 9.8 m/s^2. Volume is measure in cubic units. Usually cubic centimeters or meters
 
Density of water is 1g/cm^3
 
astru025 said:
p= density of fluid V=displaced volume and g= 9.8 m/s^2. Volume is measure in cubic units. Usually cubic centimeters or meters
Yes, this is the displaced volume. How much volume is displaced if a block of given volume say, x, is submerged in water??
 
Last edited:
  • #10
The volume is the same
 
  • #11
astru025 said:
Density of water is 1g/cm^3

As I mentioned in my previous posts, use standard units. So,

Density of water is ##1.\frac{g}{cm^3}=1000.\frac{kg}{m^3}##

Read about SI units, so that you know which units to use when. And also check out "conversion using conversion factors" to be clear about conversion
 
  • #12
astru025 said:
The volume is the same

which volume is the same, be specific?
 
  • #13
The volume of the object before being submerged in water is the same as the volume of the object after it is submerged in water.
 
  • #14
astru025 said:
The volume of the object before being submerged in water is the same as the volume of the object after it is submerged in water.

yes, true. But what is amount/volume of fluid displaced?
 
  • #15
This is what I don't know. I know the answer is right in front of me , I just can't seem to think straight right now.
 
  • #16
astru025 said:
This is what I don't know. I know the answer is right in front of me , I just can't seem to think straight right now.

How much volume of fluid is displaced if a block of given volume say, x, is submerged in water??
 
  • #17
NihalSh said:
How much volume of fluid is displaced if a block of given volume say, x, is submerged in water??

The answer to this is if an object of volume ##x## is submerged in water then the volume of water displaced is also ##x##. Can you figure this out now?
 
  • #18
A cubic meter of some material has a mass of 8600 kg. The block of material is lowered into a lake by a strong cable until the block is completely submerged. What is the buoyant force on the block?

It has been mentioned that volume of solid is ##1 m^3##
 
  • #19
Thank you so much. I came up with 9800 N which proved to be correct.
 

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