Question

Oil having a density of 926 kg/m3 floats on water. A rectangular block of wood 3.69 cm high and with a density of 974 kg/m3 floats partly in the oil and partly in the water. The oil completely covers the block. How far below the interface between the two liquids is the bottom of the block

Answer 1

Answer:

the position of the wood below the interface of the two liquids is 2.39 cm.

Explanation:

Given;

density of oil, $\rho _o$ = 926 kg/m³

density of the wood, $\rho _{wood}$ = 974 kg/m³

density of water, $\rho _w$ = 1000 kg/m³

height of the wood, h = 3.69 cm

Based on the density of the wood, it will position across the two liquids.

let the position of the wood below the interface of the two liquids = x

Let the wood be in equilibrium position;

$F_{wood} - F_{oil} - F_{water} = 0\\\\\rho _{wood} .gh - \rho _o .g(h-x) - \rho_w .gx = 0\\\\\rho _{wood} .h - \rho _o (h-x) - \rho_w .x = 0\\\\\rho _{wood} .h -\rho _o h + \rho _o x - \rho_w .x =0\\\\h (\rho _{wood} -\rho _o ) = x( \rho_w - \rho _o)\\\\x =h[\frac{ \rho _{wood} -\rho _o }{\rho_w - \rho _o} ]\\\\x = 3.69\ cm \times [\frac{974 - 926}{1000-926} ]\\\\x = 2.39 \ cm$

Therefore, the position of the wood below the interface of the two liquids is 2.39 cm.