Hydrostatics Problem (Why is this Wrong?)

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The discussion revolves around a hydrostatics problem where the user is struggling to calculate the volume of missing water correctly. They initially use the volume of a rectangular prism and subtract the volume of a quarter cylinder but find their result does not match the expected solution. The user questions the dimensions in the solution provided, suspecting a typo that omits a crucial factor. They conclude that including the missing dimension would align their calculation with the correct answer. Overall, the thread highlights the importance of careful dimensional analysis in hydrostatic calculations.
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In calculating the vertical force component, you want to find the weight of the missing water.

This should be simple: Find the Volume of the missing water and multiply by specific weight.

Why is my volume calculation incorrect? I am using the volume of the rectangular prism whose top coincides with the surface and whose base coincides with B. Then I subtract the volume of the quarter cylinder:

V_{Tot}=V_{rect}-.25V_{cyl}

V_{rect}=(1.5+0.75)(0.75)(1.2)

.25*V_{cyl}=.25*(\pi (0.75)^2(1.2)

But this does not give the correct volume. The solution says to use:

Picture2-19.png


I am failing miserably to see how my method is different from theirs? Am I messing up a dimension here?
 
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Aaahhhhhhhh! My brain!

Edit: How does what they wrote even make any sense?

The first term has dimensions of m^3 and the second has dimensions of m^2 !

Not to mention, if you put those numbers into your calculator they do not equal what they are saying they equal. WTF
 
Last edited:
It looks like the second term in their solution has a typo: They left off the factor of 1.2m.
 
Doc Al said:
It looks like the second term in their solution has a typo: They left off the factor of 1.2m.

Yeah. I think that makes it equivalent to mine if you tack that on.

Sometimes it does not help to be able to check your answers.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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