Question

Under the right conditions, it is possible, due to surface tension,to have metal objects float on water. Consider placing a shortlength of a small diameter steel ( γ = 490 lb/ft3)rod on a surface of water. What is the maximum diameter that therod can have before it will sink? Assume that the surface tensionforces act vertically upward. Note: A standard paper cliphas a diameter of 0.036 in. Partially unfold a paper clip and seeif you can get it to float on water. Do the results of thisexperiment support your analysis?

Answer 1

A) 0.0614 inches

b) The standard steel paper clip should float on water

Step-by-step explanation:

The maximum diameter that the rod can have before it will sink

we can calculate this using this formula :

D =
`((8\alpha )/(\pi y ) )^{(1)/(2) }` ----- 1

∝ = value of surface tension of water at 60⁰f = 5.03×10^−3 lb/ft

y = 490 Ib/ft^3

input the given values into equation 1 above

D =
`((8*(5.3*10^(-3)) )/(\pi *490 ) )^{(1)/(2) }`

= 5.11 * 10^-3 ft convert to inches

= 5.11 *10^-3 ( 12 in/ 1 ft ) = 0.0614 inches

B) The diameter of a standard paper Cliphas = 0.036 inches

and the diameter of the rod = 0.0614. Hence the standard steel paper clip should float on water