Archimedes Buoyancy Formula and washing astronauts

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of Archimedes' buoyancy principle in the context of astronauts bathing on the moon, specifically whether they will float higher in the water compared to on Earth.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between buoyant force and weight, questioning how changes in gravity affect these forces. There is a focus on the formula for buoyancy and the implications of density and volume in different gravitational contexts.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, examining the effects of reduced gravity on buoyancy and weight. Some have suggested that the astronaut's density relative to water remains constant, which may imply that the floating behavior does not change significantly. Multiple interpretations of the question regarding floating height are being discussed.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing consideration of how the forces acting on the astronaut (upthrust and weight) are influenced by the local gravitational conditions on the moon compared to Earth. The discussion also reflects on the assumptions made about the astronaut's volume and density.

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:

[tex]F = mg = volume[/tex]

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:

[tex]F_{upthrust} = volume*density * g[/tex]

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:

[tex]F_{upthrust} = 1*1000 * g[/tex]

[tex]F_{upthrust} = 1000*g[/tex]

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:

[tex]1000*g[/tex]

downwards we have mg

On the moon we have upwards:

[tex]1000g_2[/tex]

where g2 is the moons g,

and downwards we have

[tex]mg_2[/tex]

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

[tex]1000g - mg = 0[/tex]

[tex]1000g_2 - mg_2 = 0[/tex]

?

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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