Chapter 19, Problem 43A

When the block of wood is placed in the beaker, what happens to the scale reading? Answer the same question for an iron block

To determine

To Find: The change in scale reading with wooden block and iron block are placed.

Answer to Problem 43A

The scale reading remains unchanged in case of wooden block while the scale reading is increased in iron block case.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

When an object is placed in the fluid, the fluid exerts an upward force on the on the object. The volume of the object submerged in the fluid displaces an equal amount of fluid.

As the piece of the wood is placed in the beaker, it displaces some amount of water. The volume of displaced water is equal to the volume of the wood submerged in it. The wood floats on water and displaces fluid having weight equal to its own weight. Thus, no change is observed in the scale’s reading.

When the piece of iron is placed in the water, it displaces the water equal to its own volume. As the volume of the water displaces has lesser weight compared to the piece of iron because of higher density of the iron. Thus, the scale reading will be increased.

Conclusion:

Scale reading is not going to change when wooden block is immersed in beaker, but it increases in the case of iron block.