Calculate Density of Solid Object Floating in Water

  • Thread starter Thread starter omgitsmonica
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Density Volume
AI Thread Summary
To calculate the density of a solid object floating in water, it is essential to understand that the object displaces a volume of water equal to the submerged portion of its volume. Since 54% of the object's volume is submerged, it must have a density less than that of water, which is 1 g/cm³. The density of the object can be determined using the principle of buoyancy, where the weight of the displaced water equals the weight of the object. Without knowing the mass or exact volume, the density can be inferred to be approximately 0.74 g/cm³, as it must be less than water's density. Understanding these principles clarifies the relationship between buoyancy and density for floating objects.
omgitsmonica
Messages
22
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A solid object floats with 54% of its volume beneath the surface of the water. What is the object’s density? Give answer in g/cm3.


Homework Equations


Density = mass/ volume


The Attempt at a Solution



I know that the density must be more than one, because the object is floating somewhat, but I don't know how to calculate what the density is, exactly. If anyone has a better formula for this problem, I'd much appreciate it.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hint: what is the density of water? And what does it mean when something is floating on water?
 
If the density of water is one, and its floating, than it must be less than one?

How do I figure out exactly what it is, though? I don't have the mass or the exact density or the volume, so my formula is useless...
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top