Archimedes Buoyancy Formula and washing astronauts

AI Thread Summary
Astronauts on the moon will not float higher in water compared to Earth due to the principles of Archimedes' buoyancy. The upthrust force, which is equal to the weight of the water displaced, will decrease on the moon because of its lower gravitational pull (1.7 m/s² compared to Earth's 9.8 m/s²). However, the astronaut's density relative to water remains constant, meaning both the upthrust force and the astronaut's weight decrease proportionally. Consequently, the astronaut will experience similar buoyancy in both environments. Thus, the conclusion is that astronauts will float at the same level in water on the moon as they do on Earth.
TFM
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Homework Statement



In the future, astronauts living on the moon will have baths in their accommodation. When using them, will they float higher in the water than on earth? Explain fully the reasoning behind your answer.

Homework Equations



Achimedes Buoyancy

The Attempt at a Solution



See, I know roughly what I need to do, but I can't find a formula that expresses Archimedes Buoyancy principle. I know it is upthrust force is equal to something like volume of water displaced, thus:

F = mg = volume

but this is not right, since one side is Newtons, the other m^3

I know that I need this formula, and that the force will change because the difference in gravity (from f = mg), but I just can't seem to see a formula. Any Ideas?

Thanks,

TFM
 
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I know it is upthrust force is equal to something like volume of water displaced

Upthrust force = weight of the displaced liquid.
 
Excellent. Thanks. So

Upthrust force = weight of water displaced

for this question, the weight of the water displaced is mg. This means that we need to deal with the mass in terms of its density and volume. Thus:

F_{upthrust} = volume*density * g

since the astronaut won't change volume, this value is constant, so we can use any volume for the astronaut. Keeping it simple, I will say he has a volume of 1m^3

density of water: 1000 kg/m^3

thus:

F_{upthrust} = 1*1000 * g

F_{upthrust} = 1000*g

this means on Earth, the upthrust force will be 9800 N

on the moon, g = 1.7 m/s^2

thus the upthrust force will be 1700 N

the Upthrust force is greater on Earth then it is on the moon, thus the astronaut will float lowere on the water then he does on Earth.

Does this look right?

Thanks,

TFM
 
Hey the astronaut is on the moon too.
he has a moon weight
 
I din't think about that, so basically, its a case of the upthrust is acting upwards, and the weight is acting downwards?

So on Earth, upwards we have:

1000*g

downwards we have mg

On the moon we have upwards:

1000g_2

where g2 is the moons g,

and downwards we have

mg_2

Should I assume that the total force is 0, so that

1000g - mg = 0

1000g_2 - mg_2 = 0

?

TFM
 
Surely the point is that the ratio between the astronaut's density and that of water will remain unchanged on the moon. Upthrust will decrease but so will the weight to be buoyed up. Both forces depend on the local gravity. So I guess he'll take his bath as usual.
 
I have to say, that makes a lot of sense, and since both force will decrease by the same amount, there won't be any change.

will they float higher in the water than on earth

From the question. See, I interpreted this as higher in the water, or lower. my first thought was that it wouldn't change, but my interpretation of the question made me think it couldn't be.

Thanks,

TFM
 
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