If the density of the water plus the density of the jug are added, should it not sink!?!
2006-07-23 06:11:24 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Water is neutrally buoyant with itself. You can add as much water as you want to something and all your going to do is bring the density up/down closer towards the density of water but you will never cross the boundary.
If the density of the plastic is less than water, the plastic will float.
If the density of water equals the density of the surrounding water, the water will be neutrally buoyant (neither sink nor float).
The overall density of the object is the weighted average of the plastic and the water. If this overall density is less than water, it will float.
Don't make the mistaken in thinking that the air inside an empty jut is masssless or has no volume, this will effect the density.
Hypothetical example,
Lets say that the density of the plastic is 0.9 g/mL and the density of the water (both inside and outside is 1 g/mL).
Lets also say that you have 1000 mL of water inside the plastic jug and 10 mL of plastic. The combined volume of this system is 1010 mL and the combined mass is 1009 grams, making the overall density 1009 g / 1010 mL or about .999 g/mL....the jug will float. No matter how much water you have in the jug, the fact that the plastic itself is less dense pushed the overall density down just below that of the water.
2006-07-23 06:22:10 · answer #1 · answered by mrjeffy321 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would only sink if were denser than water, not the same, plus it is hard to fill a jug to the absolute top so there may be a little air. Also, the density of the platic itself is less than water, so even if it filled to the very top, the combined density of the plastic jug plus the water in it will be less than the equivalent volume of water, so it is not surprising that it floats.
2006-07-23 13:21:38 · answer #2 · answered by Chris S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it shouldn't because the density of the jug is less than water. The water inside the jug has the same density as the water but the jug is lighter so it will float while the water that is contained is not denser than the water it is floating in and is irrevelant.
2006-07-23 13:27:23 · answer #3 · answered by karen wonderful 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You answered your own question. The density of the jug is less than the water. Filling the jug with water does not change the density, thus it still floats.
2006-07-23 13:20:29 · answer #4 · answered by Newt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The jug confining the volume of water is still lighter and therefore has higher buoyancy than the surrounding water. If you used a heavier / denser container then it would sink.
2006-07-23 13:15:22 · answer #5 · answered by J.D. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An object will sink until it is displacing its weight in water and then it will float at that level.
2006-07-23 13:26:35 · answer #6 · answered by Tom :: Athier than Thou 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The plastic itself is less dense then water, so the whole can never be denser then water even if it is full of water.
2006-07-23 13:19:19 · answer #7 · answered by pechorin1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats funny!!!!!!!!
But anyways plastuc is a little lighter than water so platic will float
2006-07-23 13:16:19 · answer #8 · answered by desolate_pepsi_101 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A bit of Physics!!!Fascinating!!!
2006-07-23 13:15:09 · answer #9 · answered by louisa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you idiot...did u leave alittle air in it while u put on the cap?haha
2006-07-23 13:16:43 · answer #10 · answered by Ahmed A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋