Buoyancy - Maximum mass a styrofoam sphere can hold in water.

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the maximum mass that a 20 cm diameter Styrofoam sphere can support in water without sinking. The buoyancy force is calculated using the formula FB = ρfVg, resulting in a value of 333.54 N. After accounting for the weight of the sphere, the net force is determined to be 233.54 N, leading to a maximum mass of 23.8 kg. However, the initial calculations were flawed due to confusion between diameter and radius, as well as using the area of a circle instead of the volume of a sphere. Mistakes in basic calculations are common, even among professors, highlighting the importance of careful unit conversions and formula applications.
Masschaos
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Homework Statement


Styrofoam has a density of . What is the maximum mass that can hang without sinking from a 20.0 -diameter Styrofoam sphere in water?
Assume the volume of the mass is negligible compared to that of the sphere.

Homework Equations


FB = ρfVg
Fg = mg


The Attempt at a Solution


So this is as far as I can get.
The buoyancy force on the sphere is FB = ρfVg = 1000kg/m3 * pi * 0.22 * 9.8 = 333.54.
However we need to take into account the weight of the sphere.
The weight of the sphere = ρ*V = 300*pi*0.22 = 10.2
This means the net weight on the sphere is Fnet = 333.54 - (10.2*9.8) = 233.54
So the maximum weight that can be hung on the sphere must have a downward force of precisely that. mg = 233.54. m = 23.8kg.
But apparently that's not it, any pointers?
 
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well first off, the DIAMETER is 20 cm
 
Oh wow. Just a multitude of stupid mistakes!
The diameter is 20cm so the radius is 10cm. AND the volume of a sphere is 4/3 pi r^3, I was doing the area of a circle.
Argh, I'll hang my head in shame now.
 
Masschaos said:
Oh wow. Just a multitude of stupid mistakes!
The diameter is 20cm so the radius is 10cm. AND the volume of a sphere is 4/3 pi r^3, I was doing the area of a circle.
Argh, I'll hang my head in shame now.

heh, don't worry, we all make mistakes like that

I even saw one of my professors do the same thing in a lecture; he used the diameter instead of radius
 
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