Fluids and buoyance, determine how much of the cylinder is in the oil

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on two physics problems involving fluids and buoyancy. The first problem involves a solid cylinder with a radius of 0.150 m and a height of 0.120 m, floating in water and partially submerged in oil with a density of 725 kg/m³. The solution requires applying Archimedes' Principle to determine the height of the cylinder submerged in oil. The second problem addresses a pump located 12 m beneath a reservoir, requiring the application of Bernoulli's equation to find the maximum speed of water in the intake pipe, assuming nonviscous flow.

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  • Understanding of Archimedes' Principle
  • Familiarity with Bernoulli's Equation
  • Basic knowledge of fluid density and buoyancy
  • Ability to perform algebraic manipulations in physics problems
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Rachel C
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I have two physics problems on fluids that I'm stuck on and would appreciate any help! This is an algebra based physics class... (no calculus).

1. A solid cylinder (radius = 0.150 m, height = 0.120 m) has a mass of 7.00 kg. This cylinder is floating in water. Then oil (rho = 725 kg/m^3) is poured on top of the water. How much of the height of the cylinder is in the oil?

I believe this problem involves Archimedes' Principle, which states that the magnitude of the buoyant force (F_b_) equals the weight of displaced fluid(W _fluid_).
F_b_ = P2*A - P1*A = rho*g*h*A
A = (pi*r^2)*h = 0.00848 m^3
rho for water = 1000 kg/m^3

Thats about as far as I can go... I don't know how to determine the height of the cylinder that is in the oil.​

2. A pump and its horizontal intake pipe are located 12 m beneath the surface of a reservoir. The speed of the water in the intake pipe causes the pressure there to decrease, in accord with Bernoulli's principle. Assuming nonviscous flow, what is the maximum speed with which water can flow through the intake pipe?

Bernoulli's equation is...
P1 + 1/2*rho*v1^2 + rho*g*y1 = P2 + 1/2*rho*v2^2 + rho*g*y2

I think y1 = 0 m and y2 = 12 m. Then I am trying to solve for v1. I know that rho = 1000 kg/m^3, and g = 9.8 m/s^2. I'm not exactly sure what a reservoir is... but I think the water does not move, so you can assume v2= 0 m? But then I don't know P2 or P1...so how am I suppose to solve for this?​
 
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Rachel C said:
1. A solid cylinder (radius = 0.150 m, height = 0.120 m) has a mass of 7.00 kg. This cylinder is floating in water. Then oil (rho = 725 kg/m^3) is poured on top of the water. How much of the height of the cylinder is in the oil?

I believe this problem involves Archimedes' Principle, which states that the magnitude of the buoyant force (F_b_) equals the weight of displaced fluid(W _fluid_).
F_b_ = P2*A - P1*A = rho*g*h*A
A = (pi*r^2)*h = 0.00848 m^3
rho for water = 1000 kg/m^3​
Find density of the cylinder. According to Archimedes principle, if the density is less than the density of the medium (water), it floats and displaces a volume of water whose mass is equal to the mass of the floating object. It floats, so it displaces 7 kg of water, or .007m^3 of water. Therefore, the cylinder displaces .007/.00848 of its volume of water, which (if the cylinder is floating with its axis pointing up) is the ratio of its height below water to total height.


2. A pump and its horizontal intake pipe are located 12 m beneath the surface of a reservoir. The speed of the water in the intake pipe causes the pressure there to decrease, in accord with Bernoulli's principle. Assuming nonviscous flow, what is the maximum speed with which water can flow through the intake pipe?

Bernoulli's equation is...
P1 + 1/2*rho*v1^2 + rho*g*y1 = P2 + 1/2*rho*v2^2 + rho*g*y2

I think y1 = 0 m and y2 = 12 m. Then I am trying to solve for v1. I know that rho = 1000 kg/m^3, and g = 9.8 m/s^2. I'm not exactly sure what a reservoir is... but I think the water does not move, so you can assume v2= 0 m? But then I don't know P2 or P1...so how am I suppose to solve for this?​
The issue here is: how fast can the pressure on the intake pipe 'feed' the pump. The pressure in the reservoir at the intake is: P = atmospheric pressure + pressure due to water height. The pressure inside the pump can be no less than 0. Assume there is no change in height in moving from intake through the pump so ignore the potential energy terms ie. y1=y2

In the reservoir, water is static so v = 0. In the pump, let's assume a perfect vaccum: (P = 0). So with maximum flow all of the pressure energy is converted to flow (kinetic) energy:

P_{res} + 0 = 0 + \frac{1}{2}\rho v^2

P_{res} = \frac{1}{2}\rho v^2

v = \sqrt{\frac{2P_{res}}{\rho}}

AM
 
Last edited:


For the first problem, you are on the right track using Archimedes' Principle. To determine the height of the cylinder that is in the oil, you need to first calculate the buoyant force acting on the cylinder when it is fully submerged in water. This can be done using the formula you mentioned, F_b_ = rho*g*h*A, where A is the cross-sectional area of the cylinder. Once you have the buoyant force, you can use it to determine the height of the cylinder that is in the oil by setting it equal to the weight of the cylinder, which is given as 7.00 kg. This will give you an equation with one unknown, which you can solve for the height in the oil.

For the second problem, a reservoir is a large natural or artificial lake used for storing water. In this case, the water in the reservoir is not moving, so you are correct in assuming that v2 = 0 m/s. To solve for the maximum speed of water in the intake pipe, you need to use Bernoulli's equation and set the pressure at the surface of the reservoir (P1) equal to the pressure at the intake (P2). You can then solve for v1, which will give you the maximum speed of water in the intake pipe. Remember to use the given height of 12 m for y2 in the equation.
 

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