Chapter 15: Problem 38
Solve the given problems. Use a calculator in \(E x\) ercises \(40,41,\) and 44. The specific gravity \(s\) of a sphere of radius \(r\) that sinks to a depth \(h\) in water is given by \(s=\frac{3 r h^{2}-h^{3}}{4 r^{3}} .\) Find the depth to which a spherical buoy of radius \(4.0 \mathrm{cm}\) sinks if \(s=0.50\).
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Identify Given Values
Write Down the Given Equation
Substitute Known Values
Simplify the Equation
Cross-Multiply to Eliminate the Fraction
Rearrange the Equation
Solve the Cubic Equation
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Sphere
- The main characteristic of a sphere is its radius \( r \), which is the distance from the center to any point on its surface.
- In this exercise, the radius given is \( 4.0 \) cm.
Cubic Equation
- Cubic equations typically have three roots, which can be real or complex.
- There is always at least one real root for a cubic equation since polynomials with real coefficients have complex roots in conjugate pairs.
Physics Problem Solving
- **Identify:** Start by identifying what is given and what you need to find. Write down all known values and units. In this case, known values were the radius and specific gravity.
- **Formulate:** Use relevant equations that relate the known and unknown variables. Write them down clearly.
- **Substitute:** Replace the variables in your formula with the given numbers.
- **Calculate:** Solve the equation using algebraic manipulation and computational tools where necessary.
- **Interpret:** Analyze the solution to evaluate if it makes sense physically. Only real, positive numbers had meaning in this buoyancy problem.
Buoyancy
The buoyant force on an object submerged in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces. Specific gravity (\(s\)) helps determine buoyancy by comparing the object's density to the fluid's density.
- If an object's specific gravity is less than 1, it will float. This is because it is less dense than the fluid.
- If an object’s specific gravity is exactly 1, it will neither sink nor float, but remain suspended.
- If its specific gravity is more than 1, the object will sink as it is denser than the fluid.