Buoyant Force & Gravity Force find Fnet (Newtons Second Law)

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a 4 kg book sinking in the ocean, where the forces of gravity and buoyancy are considered to determine the net force acting on the book. The discussion centers around applying Newton's Second Law to find the net force, acceleration, and final velocity of the book.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of buoyant force and gravitational force, questioning the accuracy of the net force calculation. There are considerations regarding significant figures and the implications of the volume measurement. Some participants also raise questions about the direction of the coordinate system and how it affects the net force.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively exploring the calculations and assumptions involved in the problem. There is no explicit consensus on the correct approach, but some guidance has been offered regarding significant figures and the coordinate system.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem is taken directly from an online assignment platform, which may have specific requirements for answers. There is also mention of a deadline for submission, adding urgency to the discussion.

tmschmidt24
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A 4 kg book sinks a distance of 5m in the ocean starting from rest. The volume of the book is 0.00266666666666667 m^3. We assume the velocity of the Earth is zero during the whole process, and gravity and the bouyance force are the only interactions of the book. (Note: Take the density of sea water to be 1000 kg/m^3)
Solving the problem using Newton’s Seconds Law approach:
(Assume standard coordinates, centered on the initial position of the book.)
a) What is the net force acting on the book?
F_x^(net) = 0 N
F_y^(net) = ? N

b) What is the acceleration of the book?
a_x = 0 m/s^2
a_y = ? m/s^2

c) What is the final velocity of the book?
v_x^(f) = 0 m/s
v_y^(f) = ? m/s

d) What is the final speed of the book? |(v^->^f)| = ? m/s


Homework Equations


Fnet= F(gravity)+F(buoyancy)
Fnet=ma
F(gravity)=m*g
F(buoyancy)=p(fluid)V(sub)g
g=9.8 m/s^2

The Attempt at a Solution


F(buoyancy)=1000*0.00266666666666667*9.8= 26.13 N (since it is a force against it'd be negative)
F(gravity)=4*9.8=39.2 N
Fnet^y= 39.2-26.13= 13.07 N

It says my answer is wrong for Fnet^y. If I could just get the Fnet^y I can do the rest is there something I am missing?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
tmschmidt24 said:

Homework Statement



A 4 kg book sinks a distance of 5m in the ocean starting from rest. The volume of the book is 0.00266666666666667 m^3. We assume the velocity of the Earth is zero during the whole process, and gravity and the bouyance force are the only interactions of the book. (Note: Take the density of sea water to be 1000 kg/m^3)
Solving the problem using Newton’s Seconds Law approach:
(Assume standard coordinates, centered on the initial position of the book.)
a) What is the net force acting on the book?
F_x^(net) = 0 N
F_y^(net) = ? N

b) What is the acceleration of the book?
a_x = 0 m/s^2
a_y = ? m/s^2

c) What is the final velocity of the book?
v_x^(f) = 0 m/s
v_y^(f) = ? m/s

d) What is the final speed of the book? |(v^->^f)| = ? m/s


Homework Equations


Fnet= F(gravity)+F(buoyancy)
Fnet=ma
F(gravity)=m*g
F(buoyancy)=p(fluid)V(sub)g
g=9.8 m/s^2

The Attempt at a Solution


F(buoyancy)=1000*0.00266666666666667*9.8= 26.13 N (since it is a force against it'd be negative)
F(gravity)=4*9.8=39.2 N
Fnet^y= 39.2-26.13= 13.07 N

It says my answer is wrong for Fnet^y. If I could just get the Fnet^y I can do the rest is there something I am missing?

Hi tmschmidt24, Welcome to Physics Forums.

0.00266666666666667 m3 is a very strange value to be given for a volume. Are we to believe that the volume was measured to that many significant figures? The other given values are rather more limited, only one significant figure each. Could it be that the problem is testing your recognition/use of significant figures?

By the way, 0.00266666666666667 ≈ 1/375 . Just something I noticed, probably not important.
 
Thank you. The problem is copied word for word from web assign. It accepts 1 or 2 decimal points as an answer. I did try .0027 as well and came up with 26.46 for F(b) which make the F(net)y= 12.74, that did not work. It does not seem to car about Sig Figs do not matter on webassign unless stated. I thought maybe I was missing apart of the problem. I have sent an e-mail to my professor since it is due tonight at 11:59 CDST time tonight I hope that he will give me another extension.
 
Another possible "gotcha" is the assumption of coordinate system axes directions. Is your net y-direction force upwards or downwards? Which direction is positive?
 

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
680
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
13
Views
3K
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Replies
44
Views
4K