Iron has a density of 7800 kg/m³ and sinks in water…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Iron has a density of and sinks in water. A loaded iron ship has a mass of . What volume of fresh water must its hull push aside to float? Why is this possible?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Archimedes: the buoyant force equals the weight of liquid pushed aside, . An object floats if it is less dense than the liquid, with a part under the surface.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Volume. .
Step 2. Why. The hull is a thin iron shell full of air, so it pushes aside a huge volume of water for its mass. Its average density is less than water's.
Answer: ; the air inside makes the ship's average density less than water's.
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