Tension on string of submerged object.

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the tension in the wire supporting a hollow steel sphere submerged 1000m underwater, the relevant equations include buoyancy (B = ρ(f)V(f)g) and weight (W = mg). The density of water remains effectively constant at 1000 kg/m^3 even at this depth, with only a minor increase due to compression. The tension can be calculated using the equation T + B = mg, where T is the tension, B is buoyancy, and mg is the weight of the sphere. The discussion highlights the importance of discerning relevant data in problem-solving. Understanding these principles is essential for accurately determining the tension in real-world applications.
SherlockOhms
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Homework Statement


A hollow steel sphere of inner radius 0.9m and outer radius 1m is submeged 1000m below the surface of the sea. Take the density of water to be 1000 kg/m^3 and the density of steel to be 7.8 x 10^3. Calculate the tension in the wire to support the submerged sphere.


Homework Equations


B = ρ(f)V(f)g
W = mg



The Attempt at a Solution


T + B = mg.
Calculate T.
Is this correct? The 1000m below sea level is what's making me doubt myself. Should this be factored into the calculation?
 
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Your equation is correct however, I think the 1000 kg/m^3 for water they gave you would be at atmospheric pressure. You might need to get the density at 1000 m. However I don't think the value should vary by too much.
 
How would you go about calculating the density at a depth of 1000m?
 
Water is incompressible. The density of water at sea level is for all intents and purposes the same density at a depth of 1000 m.
 
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Properties_of_water#Compressibility, density increase at 1km due to compression would be only about 0.5%. In practice, higher salinity would be more important. As against that, g would be a tiny bit less. I don't think you're expected to take any of that into account for this question, since it does not specify a salinity or pressure for the given density.
 
Brilliant. Thanks for that. A little confused as to why the 1000 metres was actually specified so.
 
Providing irrelevant data in a question is a practice to be endorsed. Out in the real world, most available data are irrelevant, and recognising which are relevant is an important skill.
 
That's true. Thanks for the explanations and help in general with that anyway.
 
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