- #1
Theelectricchild
- 260
- 0
Hi everyone!
The problem statement reads: A 3.15kg piece of wood (Spec. Grav. = 0.5) floats on water. What is the minimum mass of lead, hung from it by a string will cause it to sink?
Heres my reasoning. Since the log is floating, I know that it is in equilibrium, and therefore the Bouyant force Fb = force due to gravity. Thus Fb = 3.15kg *9.8m/s^2.
But I also know that an object will float on water if [tex]\rho_w[/tex] > [tex]\rho_o[/tex]
I know the specific gravity as 0.5 so I know that the density of the wood is one half that of the water! So I've concluded that I must add enough lead to make the density of wood + density of added lead = density of water to get a minimum to sink. My only problem is, if density is m/V, how would i know what V to use?
Ok so let me think this--- I know mass of wood, and I know the denisty of it is 1/2 of water. So set 1/2 water density = m/V where m is the mass of the wood. Then solve for V and ill know the woods volume. But i Have no idea where to go from here! Sure i can look up density of lead in the book, but i don't know how much MASS to add! Would anyone happen to know how to approach this? THANKS!
The problem statement reads: A 3.15kg piece of wood (Spec. Grav. = 0.5) floats on water. What is the minimum mass of lead, hung from it by a string will cause it to sink?
Heres my reasoning. Since the log is floating, I know that it is in equilibrium, and therefore the Bouyant force Fb = force due to gravity. Thus Fb = 3.15kg *9.8m/s^2.
But I also know that an object will float on water if [tex]\rho_w[/tex] > [tex]\rho_o[/tex]
I know the specific gravity as 0.5 so I know that the density of the wood is one half that of the water! So I've concluded that I must add enough lead to make the density of wood + density of added lead = density of water to get a minimum to sink. My only problem is, if density is m/V, how would i know what V to use?
Ok so let me think this--- I know mass of wood, and I know the denisty of it is 1/2 of water. So set 1/2 water density = m/V where m is the mass of the wood. Then solve for V and ill know the woods volume. But i Have no idea where to go from here! Sure i can look up density of lead in the book, but i don't know how much MASS to add! Would anyone happen to know how to approach this? THANKS!