Question

Under the right conditions, it is possible, due to surface tension, to have metal objects float on water. Consider placing a short length of a small diameter steel (sp. wt.=500 lb/ft3) rod on a surface of water. What is the maximum diameter, Dmax⁡, that the rod can have before it will sink? Assume that the surface tension forces act vertically upward. Note: A standard paper clip has a diameter of 0.036 in. Partially unfold a paper clip and see if you can get it to float on water. Do the results of this experiment support your analysis?

Answer 1

D = 0.060732 in

Step-by-step explanation:

given data

sp. wt. = 500 lb/ft³

diameter = 0.036 in

solution

we get here maximum diameter of rod that is express as

D =
`\sqrt{(8 \sigma )/(\pi y)}` ......................1

here
`\sigma` surface tension of water at 60⁰f = 5.03 ×
`10^(-3)` lb/ft and y = 500 lb/ft³

so put here value and we will get

D =
`\sqrt{(8 * 5.03 * 10^(-3) )/(\pi * 500)}`

D = 0.005061 ft

D = 0.060732 in