Oil & Water Problem: Ball Float 50% in Water - Why Does It Rise?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of a ball that floats 50% in water when oil is added to the system. Participants are exploring the principles of buoyancy and the effects of different fluid densities on the ball's position.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to explain the ball's rising motion by suggesting that the addition of oil increases the buoyant force. Other participants question the assumptions regarding the densities of oil and water, and the relevance of Archimedes' principle in this context.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the original poster's reasoning and prompting further clarification on relevant equations and the properties of the fluids involved. There is a focus on understanding the underlying principles rather than reaching a definitive conclusion.

Contextual Notes

There is a request for relevant equations and clarification on the density comparison between oil and water, indicating that these factors are crucial to the discussion but not yet fully addressed.

Joe55433454
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How does a ball floating 50% in water move when a large amount of oil is added, and why?

MY Solution:

I think that the ball rises because when a large amount of oil is added, the oil sinks to the bottom causing the water to be pushed up, increasing the buoyant force which causes the ball to rise.

Relevant equations would be the buoyancy equation. Fb=pgB

Does anyone agree with me that this is right?
 
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Joe55433454 said:
How does a ball floating 50% in water move when a large amount of oil is added, and why?

MY Solution:

I think that the ball rises because when a large amount of oil is added, the oil sinks to the bottom causing the water to be pushed up, increasing the buoyant force which causes the ball to rise.

Does anyone agree with me that this is right?
Welcome to the PF.

Please do not delete the Homework Help Template when you are posting schoolwork-type problems. It is meant to help you organize your thoughts.

Part of the Template asks for the Relevant Equations. What are they in this case? Is oil heavier or lighter than water? Why do you think that a ball will float higher in oil than it will in water?
 
@berkeman

I am so sorry. I won't next time!
 
Please feel free to respond.
 
Joe55433454 said:
Please feel free to respond.
Not until you post the Relevant Equations and talk through how they could be applied here. And if you answer the other questions in my post above, that will help you work your way toward the answer.

Also, are you familiar with Archimedes' principle? :smile:
 

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