Answer:
17.9 m/s
Step-by-step explanation:
Volume of the slick = 0.5 x π r² h--------------------------------- (1)
Where r = radius of slick
h = thickness of slick, 10⁻⁶m
If 0.5m³ of oil leaked, then the radius of the semicircular slick can be calculated from equation (1)
V = 0.5 x π r² h
0.5= 0.5 x π x r² x 10⁻⁶
r² = 10⁶/ π
r = 10³/√π
dV/dt = πrh dr/dt + 0.5π r² dh/dt----------------------------------- (2)
Asumming the film thickness is constant , equation (2) becomes
dV/dt = πrh dr/dt-------------------------------- (3)
dV/dt = 0.1m³/day
r= 10³/√π
dr/dt= rate of expansion of the slick
Substituting into (3);
0.1 = π x 10³/√π x 10⁻⁶ x dr/dt
dr/dt = 0.1 x 10⁶/ ( π x 10³/√π)
= 17.9479 m/s
≅ 17.9 m/s
