Asked in ETEA MDCAT 2005 2005Moderate

A piece of wood and a piece of iron seem to lose the same weight when completely submerged in a liquid. The two pieces must have the same:

Correct answer: D. Volume

  • A. Weight in water
  • B. Weight in liquid
  • C. Weight in air
  • D. Volume

Explanation

According to the Archimedes principle, if an object is immersed in a fluid, it experiences an apparent loss of weight which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. The buoyant force which acts in the upward direction opposite to the weight of the object causes the apparent loss in weight. In the air, the buoyant force is negligible. Hence, the object seems heavier compared to when it is submerged. As the two objects undergo the same loss of weight when submerged in water then they must displace the same volume of water. Consequently when the objects are in the air then they will also displace the same amount of air, and as a result, they will also lose the same amount of weight as each other in the air. The weight of the objects themselves is different due to different densities in air as well as in water but the volume of liquid displaced would be the same.

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Fluid flow covers pressure, density, viscosity and the motion of liquids and gases through pipes or open channels. It includes the continuity equation, Bernoulli equation, streamline and turbulent flow, and the effects of changing area, height and speed. Viscosity and ideal fluid assumptions must not be confused with pressure effects.

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