[Phys-L] Re: Buoyancy question

[rlamont at POSTOFFICE.PROVIDENCE.EDU (rlamont)]

You can take the point of view you stated. I would refine it by looking at
the water level when the object is floating. Now remove the object - the
water level goes down. Now pour in some water to bring the level back up to
where it waws when the object was floating - this is the "displaced" water -
just like when you used the overflow cup.

Bob at PC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Forum for Physics Educators [mailto:PHYS-L@list1.ucc.nau.edu] On
Behalf
> Of Edmiston, Mike
> Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 12:16 PM
> To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU
> Subject: Re: Buoyancy question
>
> * * * Insight new to me... * * *
>
> I am now convinced that the only time a floating object physically moves
> an amount of water (from its original position) equal to the weight of
> the object, is in situations where the water level remains the same
> before and after the object is floated.  If the water level is allowed
> to rise when the object is floated, the actual amount of water that
> physically moves is less than the weight of the object.  The tighter the
> fit between the object and container, the more the water level rises,
> and the smaller the weight of water that must physically move.
>
> Is this common knowledge?
t PC