Floating on Ice: Calculating Volume Needed to Stay Afloat

In summary, the conversation discussed how to calculate the smallest volume of ice needed for a person to remain above water while floating. The solution involved using Archimedes' principle and the equation F(g) = F(a) to equate the total force of gravity on the system (consisting of the person and the ice) to the buoyant force. The correct answer was found by using the density of water and the total volume of both the person and the ice in the equation for the buoyant force.
  • #36
That's the force of gravity on the person alone. How would you express the total force of gravity on the system? The system consists of the man and the ice.
 
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  • #37
917 kg +60.0 kg x 9.81 perhaps
 
  • #38
The total force of gravity is equal to the weight of the person plus the weight of the ice. Post #35 has the weight of the person. Post #31 has the weight of ice. Adding these together gives you the left side of F(g) = F(a). The right side of the equation is the buoyant force given in post #20.
 

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