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Ch 12: Fluid Mechanics
Chapter 12, Problem 12

An ore sample weighs 17.50 N in air. When the sample is suspended by a light cord and totally immersed in water, the tension in the cord is 11.20 N. Find the total volume and the density of the sample.

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1
Calculate the buoyant force acting on the sample when it is immersed in water. The buoyant force can be found by subtracting the tension in the cord when the sample is immersed in water from the weight of the sample in air: Buoyant Force = Weight in air - Tension in cord.
Use the buoyant force to find the volume of the sample. The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the water displaced by the sample, which can be calculated using the formula for buoyant force: Buoyant Force = Density of water * Volume of sample * Gravitational acceleration. Solve for the Volume of the sample.
Calculate the mass of the sample using its weight in air. The weight of an object is the product of its mass and the gravitational acceleration: Weight = Mass * Gravitational acceleration. Solve for the Mass of the sample.
Determine the density of the sample using its mass and the volume calculated earlier. Density is defined as mass per unit volume: Density = Mass / Volume.
Verify the units at each step to ensure consistency and correctness in calculations. Common units are Newtons (N) for force, kilograms (kg) for mass, cubic meters (m^3) for volume, and kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m^3) for density.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Buoyancy

Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by a fluid on an object submerged in it. This force opposes the weight of the object and is determined by the volume of fluid displaced, according to Archimedes' principle. In this scenario, the difference between the weight of the ore in air and the tension in the cord when submerged indicates the buoyant force acting on the ore.
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Weight and Tension

Weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object, calculated as the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity. Tension is the force transmitted through a string or cord when it is pulled tight. In this problem, the weight of the ore in air is 17.50 N, while the tension in the cord when submerged is 11.20 N, which helps in calculating the buoyant force and subsequently the volume of the ore.
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Density

Density is defined as mass per unit volume and is a key property of materials. It can be calculated using the formula density = mass/volume. In this case, once the volume of the ore is determined from the buoyant force, the density can be calculated by rearranging the weight equation to find mass and dividing it by the calculated volume.
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Related Practice
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