Buoyancy of a pail of water problem

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the buoyancy effects of a submerged object in a pail of water, specifically addressing whether the weight of the pail increases when an object is submerged without spilling any water.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the tension in the string holding the object and the buoyant force acting on it. Questions arise regarding how these forces interact and affect the overall weight of the pail and water.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants questioning and clarifying their understanding of buoyant forces and their implications on weight. Some guidance has been provided regarding the relationship between buoyant force and the weight of the pail, but no consensus has been reached on all aspects of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the implications of the pail being full to the brim and the effects of potential water spillage on the overall weight calculations.

darkmagic
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I have a question, if a hung object is submerged in a pail of water, does the weight of the pail with water increase. The object is still hung and no water spills.
 
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What do you think?
 


Well, I think it does not add. Since the object is hung? Am I correct?
 


darkmagic said:
Well, I think it does not add. Since the object is hung? Am I correct?
No. Ask yourself: Before the object is in the water, what's the tension in the string? Does that tension change when the object is submerged?
 


before, the tension is the weight of the object. when submerged, the tension change since there is a buoyant force that acts on the object. Am I correct?
 


darkmagic said:
before, the tension is the weight of the object. when submerged, the tension change since there is a buoyant force that acts on the object. Am I correct?
Exactly.

And if the water exerts a buoyant force on the object, the object must exert an equal and opposite force on the water. (Newton's 3rd law.) So the water is being pushed down by the object.
 


So it adds weight. The weight added will be the weight of the object when in air, since buoyant force will be cancelled?
 


darkmagic said:
So it adds weight.
Yes.
The weight added will be the weight of the object when in air, since buoyant force will be cancelled?
No. The buoyant force isn't cancelled. But a force equal to the buoyant force will be added to the 'weight' of the pail plus water.
 


So buoyant force will be added? I got it. How about if water spills? The spilled water will be the buoyant force that will be out of the pail. However, the object exerts a force equal but opposite of the buoyant force, so it adds weight? correct?
 
  • #10


darkmagic said:
So buoyant force will be added? I got it. How about if water spills? The spilled water will be the buoyant force that will be out of the pail. However, the object exerts a force equal but opposite of the buoyant force, so it adds weight? correct?
If the pail starts out full to the brim, then the weight of the spilled water will exactly equal the buoyant force on the submerged object. (See Archimedes' principle.)
 
  • #11


Ok. I got it now. Thanks a lot.
 

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