Calculating Volume of Water Displaced by 12 kg Wooden Block

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the volume of water displaced by a 12 kg wooden block with a density of 600 kg/m³ floating in a swimming pool. The key conclusion is that the block displaces an equivalent weight of water, which is 12 kg. Given that the density of water is 1000 kg/m³, the volume of water displaced can be calculated using the formula V = m/p, resulting in a displacement of 0.012 m³. The volume of the wooden block itself is not relevant to this calculation.

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  • Understanding of buoyancy principles
  • Familiarity with the formula for density (m = pV)
  • Basic knowledge of unit conversions (kg to g, m³ to cm³)
  • Concept of weight equivalence in fluid displacement
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This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding buoyancy and fluid displacement principles in practical applications.

kuhatelyn
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A 12 kg wooden block is floating in a swimming pool. The density of the wood is
600 kg/m3. How many cubic meters of water does the block displace?
(a) 0.044
(b) 0.066
(c) 0.012
(d) not enough information to answer
(e) none of these

I'm really confused on this concept. I know that the weight displaced is the same weight as the object...But I don't know how to find volume from that.
I also tried using the equation m=pv but I don't know if that will work, or if it does, I don't know if I should plug in the density for the wood, or the density of water.

Please help! I've been trying for hours and I can't figure it out :(
 
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The block must displace enough water to equal its weight. The density of water (at "normal" temperature and pressure) is 1 g per cm (in fact, that is how "gram" was originally defined). So it should be easy to find the volume of water that has mass 12 kg.

(The volume of the block is, in fact, irrelevant.)
 


HallsofIvy said:
The block must displace enough water to equal its weight. The density of water (at "normal" temperature and pressure) is 1 g per cm (in fact, that is how "gram" was originally defined). So it should be easy to find the volume of water that has mass 12 kg.

(The volume of the block is, in fact, irrelevant.)

I'm still a little confused..
So would I plug it into m=pv?
12=1000 x V
 

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