With the exception of two holes on top in the exact shape of my feet, and I was lowered onto those holes at the exact same time, could I stand on water?
2007-08-17 04:48:50 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
First two answerers:
Then why don't both sides in this picture sink?
http://tailsteak.com/000097/hydraulic.GIF
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2007-08-17 05:02:10 · update #1
If the holes were EXACTLY the size and shape of your feet then yes, you would be standing on water. Water is an incompressible fluid. Which means that if the tank is sealed off, no leaks, and there is no way for the water to leave the tank then for you to sink into the water you would have to compress it. And that's not going to happen since it's an incompressible fluid. This is the same principle that allows a hydraulic jack to lift your car. This assumes that the tank is completely full of course. If there were some head space then you'd sink until the volumes equalized.
Edit-
After reading Jason's answer I did a little research, because I remember always treating water as incompressible. It's not perfectly incompressible, but close: one part in 5×10^7 decrease in volume for each atmosphere increase in pressure. So assuming everything is perfectly tight you'll sink a TINY TINY bit, although not into the water. If your feet total one square foot (you've got big feet) and you weigh 200 lbs. then you'll be exerting 1.4 psi. Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi. So you'll be sinking in the PPB range, which for all intents and purposes is negligible.
2007-08-17 07:10:03 · answer #1 · answered by Bigsky_52 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes but with water being a liquid only for a split second as one of your feet would begin to push down on the water harder then the other and the water would push your other foot out of the tank and the tank would leak water and you'd sink.
2007-08-17 06:00:43 · answer #2 · answered by Lily R 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you're saying that no water would leave the tank, then yes, you would be standing on water. For you to sink, the water you displace would have to leave the tank. If water can't come out then your feet can't go in. Also, the tank wouldn't need to be huge.
2007-08-17 05:02:00 · answer #3 · answered by M M 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Doubtful. I don't know how much you weigh, but it's probably too much. Both air and water are compressible.
The only way I could think of this coming close to working would be if you had a very long seal-able cavity (like a very long piston stroke) and no air in the container (Air is much more compressible than water... like a spring). The container would have to be extremely rigid and be pretty non-porous. You'd also need expert balance. I think it's more trouble than it would be worth, but it's a good question though.
2007-08-17 05:07:30 · answer #4 · answered by Jason T 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To reiterate the above answer, if no water escapes, meaning your feet feet snugly in the holes like pistons, then you will stand on the water. Getting such a terrific seal would be difficult however.
2007-08-17 05:04:11 · answer #5 · answered by supastremph 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Theoretically yes, but I don't know how you would prevent your tissues from deforming and leaking water. More practically, you could have a closed cylinder full of water (not really 'full', but you know what I mean). And a close tolerance cylinder of steel, and the water will support it. It happens all the time. It's called hydraulics.
2007-08-17 05:11:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
uh no, unless your feet is like size 69. you either would have to have giant feet or weigh 2 grams. even with some stupid tank closed off from atmosphere, you would sink because you are denser than water and gravity pulls you down for that reason
2007-08-17 04:52:35 · answer #7 · answered by pockethotrod 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, as long as there is some gravity, the denser object will always sink. You might go down slowly if there is less gravity (i.e, diffrent planet or out in space), or you hold in your breath, but none the less you will sink.
2007-08-17 04:58:02 · answer #8 · answered by Sir 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋