B Quiz Question -- What happens to the cork?

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In a scenario where a glass of water with a cork attached to a spring is dropped in free fall, the cork will move downward relative to the glass wall. This occurs because, in free fall, the buoyant force acting on the cork is effectively reduced to zero, allowing the spring to pull the cork down to its relaxed position. The cork remains centered in the glass under normal conditions, but during free fall, the dynamics change. As the water may drift out of the glass, the cork's downward motion is influenced solely by the spring force. Thus, the cork's movement is downward until it reaches the relaxed position of the spring.
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You have a glass of water with a cork floating in it. The cork is attached by a spring under some tension that is also attached to the bottom of the glass so the cork is slightly pulled deeper in the water than just by its own weight thus the cork has a bit more buoyant force. The cork always remains centered in the glass.
If the glass is dropped free fall and remains vertical and no water spills out what motion does the cork do relative to the glass wall, obviously before it hits the ground? Go up, down, remain the same and why?
 
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zul8tr said:
You have a glass of water with a cork floating in it. The cork is attached by a spring under some tension that is also attached to the bottom of the glass so the cork is slightly pulled deeper in the water than just by its own weight thus the cork has a bit more buoyant force. The cork always remains centered in the glass.
If the glass is dropped free fall and remains vertical and no water spills out what motion does the cork do relative to the glass wall, obviously before it hits the ground? Go up, down, remain the same and why?
What do YOU think happens and why? :smile:
 
I know the answer wouldn't want to give it away too soon, needs others to solve.
 
Thread closed for Moderation. We often do not allow quiz questions like this because they could be disguised homework assignments. Given you user Profile, I doubt it is homework. Please start a private conversation with me (click my avatar and "Start a Conversation") and let me know your solution. If it looks good, I can re-open the thread.
 
Thank you for the PM and for your patience. Thread is re-opened as a Quiz Question. :smile:
 
In the free fall there is no buoyant force, so the spring should go back to the zero position, and the cork will of course go downward as the spring pulls it down. Good question @zul8tr . I answered quickly without giving it very careful analysis, but I think I may have gotten the correct answer. :)
 
Down.
 
Down to the relaxed position of the spring, a conclusion that will be altogether natural if you consider that the water will tend to drift out the glass leaving the spring behind.
 
Down is the correct reaction of the cork. Internal spring force is all that is acting on the cork, free fall has reduced buoyancy to zero
 
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