Force on object located between two liquids

  • Thread starter Thread starter songoku
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Force Liquids
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a cube submerged between two liquids and the calculation of the force acting on its bottom surface. The participants explore concepts related to pressure, buoyancy, and fluid mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to apply the equations for pressure and buoyant force but express uncertainty about the depth of the cube in relation to the upper liquid surface. Some question how to incorporate atmospheric pressure and the relationship between buoyant force and the force on the bottom of the cube.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of different approaches to the problem, with participants sharing their reasoning and questioning assumptions. Some guidance has been offered regarding the calculation of buoyant force and the need to consider the densities of the liquids involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of specific information about the depths of the liquids and the dimensions of the cube, which are critical for solving the problem. There is also mention of the need to clarify the direction of buoyant forces and their relation to the overall force acting on the cube.

songoku
Messages
2,512
Reaction score
394

Homework Statement


1-2.jpg


A cube has side as shown. If the atmospheric pressure is p, find the force acting at the bottom of the cube!

Homework Equations


P = F / A
P = ρ.g.h

The Attempt at a Solution


Fbottom = Pbottom . A
= (p + Pressure by upper liquid + P by lower liquid) . 4/9 b^2
= (p + Pressure by upper liquid + d.g.1/3 b). 4/9 b^2

I don't understand how to find the pressure by upper liquid. I guess I have to use P = ρ.g.h but I don't know what the 'h' is.

By definition, h is depth so we measure the depth from the surface, but we don't know how deep is the cube from the upper liquid surface.

I think I'm missing something...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
songoku said:

Homework Statement


1-2.jpg


A cube has side as shown. If the atmospheric pressure is p, find the force acting at the bottom of the cube!


Homework Equations


P = F / A
P = ρ.g.h

The Attempt at a Solution


Fbottom = Pbottom . A
= (p + Pressure by upper liquid + P by lower liquid) . 4/9 b^2
= (p + Pressure by upper liquid + d.g.1/3 b). 4/9 b^2

I don't understand how to find the pressure by upper liquid. I guess I have to use P = ρ.g.h but I don't know what the 'h' is.

By definition, h is depth so we measure the depth from the surface, but we don't know how deep is the cube from the upper liquid surface.

I think I'm missing something...


I'm not sure but can't we use buoyant force? viz = weight of liquid displaced ...
 
cupid.callin said:
I'm not sure but can't we use buoyant force? viz = weight of liquid displaced ...

I don't know. As far as I understand, buoyant force is the difference between the force acting on the bottom and the force acting on the top of the object; and the question is asking only about the force on the bottom.

btw, what is viz?
 
Do a Google search for "Object floating in two liquids". I think the key to this problem is to find the density of the object and you can do that if you know the density of the two fluids and the distance submerged in both liquids (which happens to be the same distance).

Then Fboyobj*g*voldisplaced and you know the dimensions of the cube
 
RTW69 said:
Do a Google search for "Object floating in two liquids". I think the key to this problem is to find the density of the object and you can do that if you know the density of the two fluids and the distance submerged in both liquids (which happens to be the same distance).

density of object = 1/2 D + 1/2 d


I don't understand this :

Then Fboyobj*g*voldisplaced and you know the dimensions of the cube

I think the density should the the density of liquid, not object.
Fboy = ρliquid.g.Vimmersed; because therea re 2 liquids, I think there are 2 buoyant forces

Fboy = D.g.4/27 b3 + d.g.4/27 b3

I am not sure I found the buoyant correctly, and also how to find the force acting at the bottom part after finding buoyant force?

Another question, how to take atmospheric pressure into account?

Thanks
 
My error, it should be ρLiq. I think your answer is correct. I think you can neglect the atmospheric pressure component because the density of air is so much less than the density of the fluids.
 
One thing is troubling me ... what will be the direction of buoyant force ?

They will depend on the densities of the liquids and block (maybe) ... Do we know that ?
 
Sorry I didn't give the choices for this question.

a. b^3 [(D+d)g + \frac{p}{b}]

b. \frac{4}{27}b^3 [(3D + d)g + \frac{3p}{b}]

c. b^3 [(D - d)g + \frac{3p}{b}]

d. \frac{4}{27}b^3[(3D-d)g+\frac{3p}{b}]

e. \frac{4}{27}b^3[(D+d)g+\frac{p}{b}]Good question cupid, taking the consideration that some of the choices contain negative sign. It means that we should know the direction of the buoyant force; which I don't know...:(

Looking from the choices again, we should take atmospheric pressure into account.

Another question, is buoyant force the same as force acting on the bottom of the cube?

Thanks
 
I think the direction of buoyant force is still upwards. Half of it is immersed in D and half is in d. Both will produce buoyant forces and both are upwards.

But I still don't know how to find the pressure on the bottom...any help please?
 
  • #10
A section of the pipe with an internal diameter of 10cm tapers to an inner diameter of
6cm as it rises through a height of 1.7m at an angle of 60o with respect to horizontal.
The pipe carries water and its higher end is open to air. (a) If the speed of the water at
the lower end is 15cm/s what are the pressure at the lower end and speed of water as
its exits. (b) If the higher end of the pipe is 0.3m above the ground at what horizontal
distance from the pipe outlet does the water land.
 
  • #11
gaurav891101 said:
A section of the pipe with an internal diameter of 10cm tapers to an inner diameter of
6cm as it rises through a height of 1.7m at an angle of 60o with respect to horizontal.
The pipe carries water and its higher end is open to air. (a) If the speed of the water at
the lower end is 15cm/s what are the pressure at the lower end and speed of water as
its exits. (b) If the higher end of the pipe is 0.3m above the ground at what horizontal
distance from the pipe outlet does the water land.

I don't understand the relation of your post with the question I posted. Are you asking an entirely new question?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
35
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Replies
9
Views
1K