Is there ANY possible way to make it float? The only requirement is that it's half-full of mercury.
2007-12-30 20:24:41 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Any container? like say, a 0.1m^3 block of polystyrene foam (e.g. "Styrofoam ®") with a 0.01 m^3 cavity in it, said cavity containing 0.005m^3 of mercury? if that is allowed, then sure, it will float just fine.
On the other hand if the container is not allowed to have any buoyancy itself, then you should have qualified the term "any" and the answer would be no.
2007-12-30 22:04:00 · answer #1 · answered by tinkertailorcandlestickmaker 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm why not fill the mercury in a cork material container :D something which is light wood or a container made of very very light plastic.
2007-12-31 11:58:49 · answer #2 · answered by kittana 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.
Let's say its volume is 1 litre or 1000 cm cubed.
Its mass will be at least 6.5 kg (1/2 litre of mercury) and it will displace only 1 kg of water, so it will sink.
To make it float the volume would have to be at least 6.5 litres (or so)
2007-12-31 07:25:57 · answer #3 · answered by za 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, mercury is too dense. The only way to make it float is to cheat and add flotation devices (e.g. a balloon)
2007-12-31 04:39:24 · answer #4 · answered by Sidewinder 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋