Quartic function of a non-ideal spring

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The discussion centers on finding the roots of a quartic function related to the behavior of a non-ideal spring. The roots represent the turning points, which are critical for understanding the spring's motion. Participants emphasize the complexity of quartic equations and suggest various methods for solving them, including numerical approaches and graphing techniques. The importance of accurately determining these roots is highlighted, as they influence the spring's performance characteristics. Effective solutions to this problem are essential for applications in physics and engineering.
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Homework Statement
Solve for y: $$\frac{\lambda}{4} y^4+\frac{k}{2} y^2+mgy-E=0$$
Relevant Equations
I do not know of any relevant equations
I'm stuck in a part of my problem where I need to find the roots of this function which represent turning points for a non-ideal spring.
 
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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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