MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Subject: Since Archimedes Principle states a floating object displaces its weight in

Date: Fri Mar 9 16:07:22 2001
Posted by James Griepenburg
Grade level: teacher/prof School: Chemmet Services
City: Pittsford State/Province: NY Country: USA
Area of science: Physics
ID: 984172042.Ph
Message:

fluid how can something weighing 1000000 of anything float in 100 0f anything?  
RE. Re: Is it possible to float a 1000000 pound boat in just 100 pounds of 
water?
Date: Thu Mar 8 11:43:08 2001
Posted By: Denison Dwarkah, Grad student, Chemical Engineering, The University 
of the West Indies
Area of science: Physics
ID: 982616490.Ph 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message:


Whether or not something floats, has to do with its density, not just its 
mass. Density is the mass to volume ratio. Any substance(immiscible), or 
structure with a density less than that of water, will float in water. 
So a 1000000 boat, with the correct volume, would be able to float.

As to if you can find something weighing 1000000 pounds, which is also 
small enough to fit into the space that 100 pounds of water, is another 
issue, but strictly speaking, it is possible.

I hope this helps

[note added by MadSci Admin: Think about a boat that is shaped
like a flat cookie tin, but very much larger in area.  That
could, in principle, be floated on a large but thin lake.]






Re: Since Archimedes Principle states a floating object displaces its weight in

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