Calculating the height of the water column

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a solid cubical block floating in mercury, with part of it submerged. The scenario changes when water is added until the block is fully submerged. The objective is to calculate the height of the water column added, given the density of mercury.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the necessity of assuming a sufficiently tall container and the implications of buoyancy forces acting on the block. Questions arise regarding the weight of the block and how to apply Archimedes' Principle to find the depth of water needed for complete submersion.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing clarifications and hints about the principles involved, such as buoyancy and the relationship between the weights of the fluids and the block. There is no explicit consensus yet, but several lines of reasoning are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of specific information about the height of the container and the assumptions that must be made regarding fluid overflow. The problem is framed within the context of buoyancy and fluid mechanics.

taeyeong14
Messages
9
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A solid cubical block with a side of 11.0 cm floats in mercury so that 5.48 cm of the side of the block is submerged in the mercury. Water is then poured on the system until the block floats completely submerged. calculate the height of the water column that was added. The density of mercury is 13590 kg/m^3


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I do not know if this makes sense without a specific height of the container given. Does this problem make sense at all?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes it does. Well, you have to assume that the container is sufficiently tall such that within the parameters of the problem, the fluid does not overflow, but that isn't too much of a problem and can be safely ignored.

You need to be able to compute the buoyancy forces acting on the block. If you need to read up more, I suggest looking up a general physics textbook.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
Fightfish said:
Yes it does. Well, you have to assume that the container is sufficiently tall such that within the parameters of the problem, the fluid does not overflow, but that isn't too much of a problem and can be safely ignored.

You need to be able to compute the buoyancy forces acting on the block. If you need to read up more, I suggest looking up a general physics textbook.


could you explain a little more about the problem please?
 
Read the problem statement carefully.

1. The block is a cube with sides of 11 cm.
2. When the block is floating in pure mercury (density 13590 kg/m^3), 5.48 cm of the block is submerged.
3. Water is now poured on top of the mercury until the block becomes totally submerged.

What is the height of the water above the surface of the mercury?

Can you find the weight of the cube? Hint: use Archimedes Principle
Knowing the weight of the cube, find out the depth of water such that the cube floats with its top surface submerged.
 
Initially, the block is partially submerged in mercury. The mercury exerts an upthrust force on the block, which balances the weight of the block.
Can you find the weight of the block?

Then, water is added to the system. Water floats on mercury because it is less dense. So now, the lower part of the block will be in mercury and the upper part in water. Once again, the upthrust is equal to the weight of the block.
Can you find the new upthrust?
 

Similar threads

Replies
16
Views
6K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
7K
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K