Question

Consider a beaker of water sitting on the pan of an electronic scale that has been tared. A metal weight hanging from a string is suspended in the water and the mass reading on the scale reads 0.13 g. The metal weight falls from the string, rests on the bottom of the beaker, and the reading becomes 0.70 g. (Density water = 0.9982 g/ml) What is the mass of water displaced by the metal weight?

Answer 1

The mass of water displaced is 0.57 g, based on the change in electronic scale readings. To calculate the volume of the water displaced, we divide this mass by the density of water, which gives us a volume of 0.571 mL.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mass of water displaced by the metal weight in a beaker can be found by comparing the change in mass reading on an electronic scale before and after the metal weight falls into the water. Initially, the scale reads 0.13 g due to the buoyancy force when the metal weight is suspended in water. Once the metal weight is no longer suspended and rests on the bottom, the reading becomes 0.70 g. The difference in mass, therefore, is 0.70 g - 0.13 g = 0.57 g, which represents the mass of water displaced.

To find the volume of water displaced, we use the density of water (0.9982 g/ml). The volume displaced (Vw) is equal to the mass of water displaced (mw) divided by the density of water (ρw). Thus, Vw = mw / ρw = 0.57 g / 0.9982 g/ml = 0.571 mL (rounded to three significant figures). This volume also represents the volume of the metal weight since it displaces its own volume when fully submerged in water.