All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Science
Ice Floating in Water (Posted on 2005-04-21) Difficulty: 3 of 5

You have a cube of ice floating in a glass of water. The question is what fraction of the ice will be above the water line? Assume that the ice is not bobbing.

Most of you have probably heard the answer to this before. But please provide a proof or solution, along with your assumptions.

  Submitted by np_rt    
Rating: 3.0000 (8 votes)
Solution: (Hide)

Assume that the density of the ice and water are constant.

Let V=total volume of the ice
V'=volume of the ice in the water
Di=density of the ice
Dw=density of the water
g=gravitational constant

Since the ice is not bobbing, the net force on it is 0. Let's consider the forces in the direction of gravity.

There are two forces acting on the ice in opposite directions.

Gravity acts "downward" and has a magnitude of Di*g*V.

The force acting up on it is the buoyant force exerted by the water. By Archimede's principle, that force has a magnitude of Dw*g*V'.

Balancing those forces we get Dw*g*V'=Di*g*V.

So V'/V=Di/Dw. The density of ice is about 0.9 g/cm^3 and the density of water is about 1.0 g/cm^3. So the fraction of the volume in the water is V'/V = 0.9.

So the fraction of the water above the water line is about 0.1 or 10% give or take a percent or two.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
lol easyRachael2006-05-18 09:59:36
re: J.C. won't like thisjessica2005-07-21 12:51:48
home againvije2005-06-14 13:30:48
re: Reply to RexRex2005-04-25 15:32:32
Jeez, I really hate to get into this...Erik O.2005-04-22 15:23:26
Reply to RexJonathan Chang2005-04-22 15:21:14
Questionre: Sea water is not waterRex2005-04-22 14:46:49
SolutionJ.C. won't like thisRex2005-04-22 14:45:37
uncerttaintyJonathan Chang2005-04-22 07:57:11
UncertaintyJonathan Chang2005-04-22 07:54:02
UncertaintyJonathan Chang2005-04-22 07:52:23
Bottom Linenp_rt2005-04-22 07:21:43
RatingJonathan Chang2005-04-22 02:51:17
Nothing concerned with the questionJonathan Chang2005-04-22 02:44:26
Reply to TristanJonathan Chang2005-04-22 02:27:59
re: Sea water is not waterTristan2005-04-22 01:51:03
SolutionIndependent solutionTristan2005-04-22 01:28:27
Sea water is not waterJonathan Chang2005-04-22 00:56:27
SolutionJonathan Chang2005-04-21 23:29:07
UncertaintyJonathan Chang2005-04-21 23:26:12
UncertaintyJonathan Chang2005-04-21 23:26:12
UncertaintyJonathan Chang2005-04-21 23:19:07
SolutionSolution Based on DensitiesRichard2005-04-21 20:48:30
re: Uncertainty - continuenp_rt2005-04-21 17:44:10
re: Uncertainty...Sam2005-04-21 17:41:53
SolutionSOLnilshady2005-04-21 17:24:41
Uncertainty - continueJonathan Chang2005-04-21 16:54:05
UncertaintyJonathan Chang2005-04-21 16:50:47
re: Uncertaintynp_rt2005-04-21 16:18:14
Solutionre: UncertaintyCharlie2005-04-21 14:23:08
UncertaintyJonathan Chang2005-04-21 13:37:43
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (6)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information