A ship usually has depth markings on its side to indicate how deep it has sunk below the sea surface. Ship captains are ALWAYS very careful as a ship sailing from Singapore to London will not always float at the same level,given the same weight of the ship. Why is this so? What concepts are used here?
2007-03-01 12:46:44 · 6 answers · asked by ms_rar 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Warm water around Singapore is less dense than cold water around London; and ships will sail deeper in less dense water as a result. Further, if the ship enters the Thames, since it is fresh (non salted) water, it is less dense there as well.
2007-03-01 12:51:57 · answer #1 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Vincent G beat the blog baba to the answer, good job Vince. It's the temperature difference (density) of the surrounding water that effects the buoyancy of the ship. Bilge water used for ballast will change a ships sailing depth when it is taken on or discharged as well and it used to keep the ship at optimal depth in route.
2007-03-05 12:13:39 · answer #2 · answered by blogbaba 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The weight of the ship is the only thing constant. You must also consider the weight of the fuel and cargo. Thus the total weight has a wide fluctuation and hence the differing depths or drafts of the ship.
2007-03-01 12:51:18 · answer #3 · answered by All hat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
combine the two answers....that as you burn off fuel you float higher, and that a ship floats deeper in fresh water than in salt.....and you have the answers.
Specifically on a trip from London to Singapore, you'll float slightly deeper in the mostly fresh water lakes in the Suez Canal
2007-03-02 06:34:04 · answer #4 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just a guess sort of -- buoyancy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buoyancy and displacement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displacement_%28fluid%29
2007-03-01 13:01:54 · answer #5 · answered by --------------- 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it's moving
2007-03-01 13:48:12 · answer #6 · answered by aldrin m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋