Calculating Density of Ice from a Buoyant Force Problem - Homework Help

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the density of ice using the buoyant force experienced by an iceberg. The scenario describes an iceberg with specific dimensions above and below the water surface, and the density of seawater is provided for reference.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand how to find the volume of the iceberg given only its height and submerged height, expressing confusion about the need for mass or volume to calculate density.
  • Some participants suggest that the iceberg can be treated as a rectangular box, indicating that the dimensions can be expressed in terms of variables rather than needing specific values for length and width.
  • There is a question about how to derive volume without knowing the length and width directly.

Discussion Status

The discussion is focused on clarifying the relationship between the dimensions of the iceberg and the calculations needed for density. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of variables to express volume, but there remains uncertainty about the initial conditions and assumptions required for the calculations.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is working within the constraints of a homework assignment, which may impose specific methods or assumptions about the shapes and dimensions involved in the problem.

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Homework Statement



The tallest iceberg ever measured stood 167 m above the water. Suppose that both the top and the bottom of this iceberg were flat and the thickness of the submerged part was estimated to be 1.50 km. Calculate the density of ice. The density of sea water equals 1025 kg/m3.


Homework Equations



Weight of the object / Buoyant Force = Density of the object / Fluid density
V = L x W x H
Density of fluid / density of object = volume of object / volume of fluid

The Attempt at a Solution



I don't want an answer, I just need help figuring out how I'm supposed to find the volume.
I know that I need the volume in order to find the density, and the mass...but how do I find either the density OR volume with just the height and the submerged height? I know that I'm supposed to assume the iceberg is a rectangular prism...but shouldn't I know the mass or volume in order to find the density?
How do you find the volume with only the height?
 
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You don't need to know the mass. You are assuming it is a rectangular box, not a prism. So the length and width are the same for the volumes of the iceberg above and below the water.

The second equation you listed is all that is really needed.
 
But how do you find the volume with only a height? I don't know the length and width...
 
You can still express the volumes you need in terms of L,W,H by just using the variables and put them into the equation. You don't need to know L and W directly. They will be canceled out.
 

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