Does Throwing a Brick Overboard Increase or Decrease Lake Water Levels?

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SUMMARY

The act of throwing a brick overboard from a boat results in a decrease in lake water levels. When the brick is in the boat, it displaces a volume of water equal to its weight. Once thrown into the water, the brick sinks and displaces a volume of water equal to its own volume, which is less than the volume displaced while in the boat. Therefore, the overall water level in the lake decreases when the brick is thrown overboard.

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A man is in a rowing boat floating on a lake, in the boat he has a brick. He throws the brick over the side of the boat so as it lands in the water. The brick sinks quickly. The question is, as a result of this does the water level in the lake go up or down?

Answer: http://mindcipher.com/puzzle/97-open-water"
 
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Of course the net result is the water level going down. Because the block in the boat displaces an amount of fluid equal to the block's weight. However when the block is thrown overboard, the resulting volume of displaced fluid is much less, therefore the level must be lower.
 

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