Question

How could i determine the volume of an object that had an irregular shape? (i can’t measure it with a ruler)

a boat has a mass of 19 000 000kg and a volume of 45 000m3. would this boat sink or float in water? prove your answer mathematically.

Answer 1

The volume of an irregular shape can be found by placing it in a can (of known volume) of water. The amount of water the shape displaces is equal to its volume.

Boat will float. It has a lower density that that of water.

Explanation:

If an object has a lower density than the fluid it is in, it will float. If higher, it will sink.

Assuming the water is at room temperature:

Density of water,
`p_(w)=1000kg/m^3`

Density,
`p = (m)/(V)`

Mass of boat=19,000,000

Volume of boat=45,000
`m^3`

`p_(b)=(19,000,000kg)/(45,000m^3)\\p_(b)=422.22kg/m^3`

`p_(w)>p_(b)`

Therefore the boat will float on water.