#$&* course PHY 121 4.18.11 at 10:45pm
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Given Solution: The 400 g mass will experience a downward gravitational force of .4 kg * 9.8 meters/second^2 = 3.92 Newtons. It will also experience in upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the 300 cm^3 of water it displaces. This volume of water, at 1 g per cm^3, will have a mass of 300 grams and therefore a weight of .3 kg * 9.8 meters/second^2 = 2.94 Newtons. The forces acting on the mass are therefore the downward 3.92 Newtons of gravity, the upward 2.94 Newtons of the buoyant force and the tension, which we will call T, in the string. Since the system is in equilibrium these forces must add up to 0. We thus have -3.92 Newtons + 2.94 Newtons + T = 0, which has solution T = .98 Newtons. In common sense terms, gravity pulls down with 3.92 Newtons of force and the buoyant force pushes of with 2.94 Newtons of force so to keep all forces balanced the string must pull up with a force equal to the .98 Newton difference. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): It makes sense that buoyancy would exert an upward force on the weight. What would happen is the weight did not 'float' but sank? ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique rating:
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Given Solution: At a depth of 12 cm, the volume of the immersed portion will be 12 cm * 8 cm^2 = 96 cm^3. This portion will therefore displace 96 grams of water. The weight of this displace water will be .096 kg * 9.8 meters/second^2 = .94 Newtons. This will be the buoyant force on the cylinder. STUDENT COMMENT: oh so the water above the cylander is displaced. i guess the cylander reaches this distance to the surface and maybe higher. INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: The mechanism isn't specified here, but you are told that the cylinder is immersed to depth 12 cm. The cylinder might be held there by some other force, it might be bobbing up or sinking down at a certain instant, etc.. As long as it displaces 96 cm^3 of water, the buoyant force will be as calculated. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): Easy enough. ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique rating:
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Given Solution: The buoyant force on the cylinder is still .94 Newtons, directed upward. Gravity exerts a downward force of .080 kg * 9.8 meters/second^2 = .79 Newtons, approximately. The net force on the cylinder is therefore .94 N - .79 N = .15 N, directed upward. This will give its 80 gram mass and acceleration a = F / m = .15 N / .080 kg = 1.875 m/s^2. Note that as the cylinder rises less and less of its volume is submerged, so the buoyant force will decrease while the weight remains the same. Until the buoyant force has decreased to become equal and opposite to the weight, the net force will continue to be upward and the cylinder will continue to gain velocity. After this instant the cylinder will continue to rise, but the net force will be downward so that the cylinder will begin slowing down. Eventually the cylinder will come to rest and the net downward force will cause it to start descending once more. It will continue descending until the net force is again 0, at which the time it will have a downward velocity that will carry it beyond this point until it again comes to rest and the cycle will start over again. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Self-critique (if necessary): I actually got it right. Just didn't calculate acceleration. I see though why that is important. Since the buoyant force is greater than the force of gravity, it will propel out of the water at a rate if 1.875m/sec^2. ------------------------------------------------ Self-critique rating: