Does Throwing Rocks from a Boat Affect Water Level?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of Archimedes' principle and whether the water level will rise or fall when rocks are thrown out of a boat. The conclusion is that when a rock is in the boat, it displaces a volume of water equal to its weight, but when it's in the water, it displaces a volume of water equal to its volume. Therefore, the occupied volume is bigger when rocks are thrown into the water, causing the water level to rise. The discussion also mentions how the forces acting on the boat and the properties of the rock and water
  • #1
pookisantoki
44
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I have been pondering about this for awhile now. If there are rocks on a boat (that's floating in a water) and one by one the rock is thrown onto the water. Does the water level rise or fall from the initial level?

I believe that it will rise but am not 100% sure.
 
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  • #2
pookisantoki said:
I have been pondering about this for awhile now. If there are rocks on a boat (that's floating in a water) and one by one the rock is thrown onto the water. Does the water level rise or fall from the initial level?

I believe that it will rise but am not 100% sure.

Why do you think so? Explain!

ehild
 
  • #3
my reasoning is because of the forces acting on it...the Fb=density of the fluid * gravity * volume and by taking the rock out, were increasing the Fb so increasing the volume?
 
  • #4
Why do you think that Fb increases if you take the rock out? Fb=Volume of the immersed part of the boat*g*density of the fluid. Does an empty boat immerse deeper in the water or a loaded one?

ehild
 
  • #5
loaded ones immerses deeper so Fb is less when the rocks are taken out so the volume would be less...?? thus the water level will decrease??
 
  • #6
Think of it this way. When the rock is in the boat, it's displacing a volume of water equal to its weight. When it's in the water it's displacing a volume of water equal to its volume. Think of what happens if the rock is really really dense.
 
  • #7
pookisantoki said:
loaded ones immerses deeper so Fb is less when the rocks are taken out so the volume would be less...?? thus the water level will decrease??

Yes. Let be the mass of the rock m, that of the boat is M. The boat floats, part of it of volume V1 is immersed in water. Fb = (M+m)g=ρ(water)*g*V1.

V1=(M+m)/ρ(water), the total occupied volume in the pond is V(water)+V1.*

You throw the rock into the water. The boat becomes lighter, Fb=Mg=ρ(water)*g*V2,

V2=M/ρ(water),

but the rock is on the bottom of the water, (assuming that its density is higher than that of the water) and its volume is

V(rock) = m/ρ(rock).

The total occupied volume in the pond is now

V2+V(water) +V(rock) **

When is the occupied volume bigger?

ehild
 

FAQ: Does Throwing Rocks from a Boat Affect Water Level?

What is buoyant force?

Buoyant force is the upward force exerted by a fluid on an object immersed in it. It is caused by the difference in pressure between the top and bottom of the object.

How is buoyant force calculated?

Buoyant force can be calculated using Archimedes' principle, which states that the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. It can also be calculated using the formula Fb = ρVg, where Fb is the buoyant force, ρ is the density of the fluid, V is the volume of the displaced fluid, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

What factors affect the buoyant force on an object?

The buoyant force on an object is affected by the density of the fluid, the volume of the object, and the acceleration due to gravity. It is also affected by the shape of the object and its depth in the fluid.

How does buoyant force determine whether an object floats or sinks?

If the buoyant force on an object is greater than its weight, the object will float. If the buoyant force is less than its weight, the object will sink. This is determined by the density of the object and the fluid it is immersed in. An object with a lower density than the fluid will float, while an object with a higher density will sink.

Can buoyant force be negative?

No, buoyant force cannot be negative. It is always directed upwards, opposing the weight of the object. However, it can be less than the weight of the object, causing it to sink.

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