How Small Can the Iceberg Get Before the Polar Bear Gets Wet Feet?

[CR9]

Homework Statement

A polar bear of mass 520 kg is floating on an iceberg in the ocean. As the ice melts, how small can the iceberg get before the bear gets wet feet? (The answer should be the volume of the iceberg).

Homework Equations

Buoyant Force, Fb = p(fluid)V g

From a table in my textbook, p(ice)= 920 kg/m^3 and p(sea water)= 1030 kg/m^3

The Attempt at a Solution

I did a sum of the forces in the y-direction to be zero and obtained:

Fb - W(bear) - W(ice)= 0
p(sea water)V = 520 + p(ice)V
V= 4.73 m^3

My answer is wrong... PLease help...

 

[PeterO]

Homework Statement

A polar bear of mass 520 kg is floating on an iceberg in the ocean. As the ice melts, how small can the iceberg get before the bear gets wet feet? (The answer should be the volume of the iceberg).

Homework Equations

Buoyant Force, Fb = p(fluid)V g

From a table in my textbook, p(ice)= 920 kg/m^3 and p(sea water)= 1030 kg/m^3

The Attempt at a Solution

I did a sum of the forces in the y-direction to be zero and obtained:

Fb - W(bear) - W(ice)= 0
p(sea water)V = 520 + p(ice)V
V= 4.73 m^3

My answer is wrong... PLease help...

I like your answer!

 

[RTW69]

I also think your answer is correct.

 

[dynamicsolo]

I also am getting your answer: the iceberg is just completely submerged, so you should be using its full volume in the buoyancy force calculation. Is what is telling you this is wrong an answer in the back of a textbook, or a computer problem system?