Buoyancy Name__________________________________

Problem Set

1. After completing Physical Science, you decide to take your aggressions out and, forever saying goodbye to science,
you decide to tie a couple of helium filled balloons to your (my!) text book and float it off to parts unknown. If the
book weighs 1.00 kg, what is the minimum number of helium balloons you need to buy to make your dreams come
true? Assume each balloon is 15.0 liters in volume. The density of air is 1.29 x 10-3 g/cm3 and the density of helium is
1.80 x 10-4 g/cm3.

2. An iron anchor weighs 125 kg in air and has a density of 7874 kg/m3. If it is immersed in sea water that has a
density of 1024 kg/m3, how much force (in kg) would be required to lift it while it is at the bottom of the ocean?

3. A block is 7.00 cm wide, 8.00 cm long, and 2.00 cm tall and has a mass of 67.00 g.
a) What is its volume in cm3?

b) What is its density in g/cm3?

c) If it was floating in fresh water (with the 7.00 cm x 8.00 cm face down), how far would
the block be submerged under water?

d) How much extra weight can it support without sinking?

4. A 2.00 cm by 2.00 cm by 2.00 cm metal block has a mass of 80.00 g.
a) What volume of water does it displace when it is submerged?

b) What is the mass of the water displaced?

c) What is the apparent mass of the block when measured under water?

5. A barge is carrying a load of gravel along a river. It approaches a low bridge and the captain realizes the top of the
pile of gravel is not going to make it under the bridge. The captain quickly orders the crew to quickly shovel gravel
from the pile into the water. Is this a good decision? Please explain.