Volume of 410kg Bluefin Tuna at 15m Depth: 41854 m3

[tennisgirl92]

Homework Statement

A 410kg bluefin tuna rests motionless at a depth of 15m below the ocean's surface. The absolute pressure at this depth is 251,700 Pa. What is the volume of the fish?

Homework Equations

absolute P=gauge Pressure+atmospheric pressure
1atm=1.03e⁵Pa
P=density x g x height
density=mass/volume

The Attempt at a Solution

I first converted to atmospheres. So 251,700 Pa is 2.444 atm.
2.44atm=(410/V)(9.8)(15)+1atm
1.44atm=410/V x 9.8 x 15
V=41854 m³

This cannot be right...

 

[haruspex]

(410/V)(9.8)(15)

You need to stop and think what that expression means. You are taking the tuna's density and finding the pressure at a 15m depth in a liquid of that density. I.e. you are taking the tuna as reaching all the way to the surface.

This is a somewhat tricky problem. In general, if body floats neutrally in a fluid, what does that say about the body's density in relation to the fluid?

 

[tennisgirl92]

You need to stop and think what that expression means. You are taking the tuna's density and finding the pressure at a 15m depth in a liquid of that density. I.e. you are taking the tuna as reaching all the way to the surface.

This is a somewhat tricky problem. In general, if body floats neutrally in a fluid, what does that say about the body's density in relation to the fluid?

Ok, I think that would mean the body would have the same density as the fluid. But why does the above mean the tuna is reaching all the way to the surface? Are we calling where the tuna is as h=0?

 

[haruspex]

why does the above mean the tuna is reaching all the way to the surface?

Well, you explain to me the basis for multiplying the tuna's density by g and its depth.
You applied the equation P=density x g x height, but you cannot just apply equations because you happen to have variables of the right kind. An equation only applies in a specified context, where the variables in it are related in a specific way. In F=ma, F is the net force on an object an m is the mass of the object, not the mass of something else that's lying around. In P=ρgh, what do ρ, h and P represent? ρ is the density of what? h is what distance?

that would mean the body would have the same density as the fluid.

Right, so consider this: if the water has a uniform density all the way down, what has the depth to do with anything? If it can float neutrally at one depth it can float neutrally at any depth.

 

[tennisgirl92]

I guess I do not understand the equation well. In P=pgh, density would be referring to that of the object, Pressure would be referring to that of the incompressible fluid, and h the height of the column of fluid above location. This is what I have in my notes. If we multiply the tuna's density x g x depth, would we be finding the tuna's pressure and not the ocean?

So because the tuna is not floating, its density must be different from the water. Do we not need to include the depth?

 

[haruspex]

In P=pgh, density would be referring to that of the object

No. That equation is independent of any immersed object. It gives you the pressure at depth h in a fluid of density ρ.

the tuna is not floating

It is floating, not at the surface but fully immersed. It still counts as floating.

 

[tennisgirl92]

Since we are given the pressure at the depth, is it redundant to include it in the equation?

ok, I see what you mean about water not changing density with depth. But how do we solve for the fish volume without dealing with the tuna's density?

 

[haruspex]

Since we are given the pressure at the depth, is it redundant to include it in the equation?

ok, I see what you mean about water not changing density with depth. But how do we solve for the fish volume without dealing with the tuna's density?

Since the fish is floating immersed it has neutral buoyancy. What is the relationship between the tuna's density and that of the surrounding water?

How can you find the density of water at that depth?

 

[tennisgirl92]

The tuna's density must be the same as the surrounding water. Would we do this:

absolute pressure of water=density of water x gravity x depth and solve for density of water?

we could then equate density=m/v and we have the mass of the fish.

2.44atm=density x 9.8 x 15m
density=.01698

.01698=410kg/V
V=24701 m^3

this still can't be right.

 

[haruspex]

2.44atm=density x 9.8 x 15m
density=.01698

Watch the units! You have calculated density in units of atm s²m^-2. Doesn't seem useful.
Try not converting to atm in the first place.