# Homework Help: Block in oil

1. Mar 17, 2008

### ~christina~

[SOLVED] block in oil

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A cubical block of wood 10.0cm on a side floats at the interface between oil and water with it's lower surface 3.00cm below the interface. The density of the oil is 0.790kg/m^3.
a) what is the gauge pressure at the upper face of the block?
b) what is the gauge pressure on the lower surface of the block?
c) find the density of the block.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6067/81479390rw0.th.jpg [Broken]

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

do I use these equations ?
I'm not sure about the volume of the block. If according to the picture (I redrew it), it's 2cm below the interface what would that change?

I thought I would use these equations but not sure after the interface issue arises in this problem

a) $$B=(P_{bottom}-P_{top})A = \rho g V= mg$$

I don't have the buoyant force though...and I thought that the Pbottom - Ptop would be the gauge pressure but is this correct?

b) I think that since it is below the interface of the oil then I would take the density of water instead of the oil
$$B=(P_{bottom}-P_{top})A = \rho g V= mg$$

c) not sure once again but thinking of using this equation

$$B-F_g= (\rho _{fluid}- \rho_{object})g V_{object}$$

However I don't have the mass of the block...hm..

could someone tell me if I'm going in the right direction?

Thank you

Last edited by a moderator: May 3, 2017
2. Mar 17, 2008

### physixguru

You do NOT have to consider buoyancy in the force balance because the buoyancy is caused by the pressure on the faces.:)

3. Mar 17, 2008

### ~christina~

so how would I solve to find the gauge pressure?

4. Mar 17, 2008

### ~christina~

5. Mar 17, 2008

### kamerling

The gauge pressure is just the pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.

You need to compute Ptop and Pbottom first, using just how much oil or water is above the depth of the top or the bottom of the block.

For c) you can use the equation you quoted at a). What is the volume of a block with height 10 cm and top area A?

6. Mar 17, 2008

### ~christina~

so it would be P-P(atmosphere)?
so would there be 3cm of oil?

volume of a block?

well it would be 10cm^3

7. Mar 17, 2008

### kamerling

You can ignore atmospheric pressure because it gets added to all the pressures, and just treat the experiment as if it's done in vacuum.

There would be 3 cm of oil at the top.

10 cm^3 isn't correct. I asked for the volume with A still in it, because A also appears in
$$B=(P_{bottom}-P_{top})A = \rho g V= mg$$

8. Mar 18, 2008

### ~christina~

Thanks for your help kamerling