The Riddle

Discussion in 'All Things Boats & Boating' started by PAUL XAVIER, Jan 8, 2016.

  1. PAUL XAVIER
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    PAUL XAVIER Junior Member

    I think its worth a try!

    A man stuck in a small sailboat on a lake throws a stone overboard. It sinks to the bottom of the lake.What will happen to the water level of lake?
    PS:Lake is not large enough to neglect the effect of stone.
     
  2. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    OK, well, while the rock is in the boat it displaces more than its volume, through the agency of the boat, when it sinks, it displaces exactly its volume, so I'd say the level of the lake falls.
     
  3. jehardiman
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    jehardiman Senior Member

    Concur. The water level in the lake falls proportional to the water volume density equal to the weight of the rock (i.e. boat displaces less). The water level in the lake rises proportional water volume density of the volume of the rock. Since the rock sinks, the rock volume * the water volume density is less than the rock weight, so the volume increase is less than the volume decrease so the total volume (water +rock) is less than the previous volume (water+boat)

    Is your homework going well?
     
  4. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    But when the stone is on board the ship moves more water than when the stone is at the bottom of the lake.
    The ship, without stone, displaces less volume of water, thus decreasing the level of the lake.
     
  5. Barry
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    Barry Senior Member

    I would say the level stays the same
    When the rock is in the sailboat, the sailboat displaces the weight of the rock and the boat.
    Two conditions
    When the rock is in the air before it hits the water, the lake level drops as the boat displaces only the weight of the boat

    When the rock is under water, the lake level comes up to its original level
     
  6. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    When the rock is on the bottom of the lake it displaces only its volume. When the rock is in the boat it displaces its weight via the boat hull. The lake level drops, more or less, depending upon the surface area of the lake. The greater the area, the more insignificant the variance.
     
  7. Tiny Turnip
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    Tiny Turnip Senior Member

    when the stone is in the boat it displaces its *weight* of water.

    when it is in the air it displaces no water

    when it is in the water it displaces its *volume* of water.

    the weight of the stone's volume of water is less than the stones weight of water.

    (we know that because it sinks)

    So, as the stone is tossed out of the boat, the level will go down, then come back up as the stone enters the water, but not as far up as it did when it was in the boat.

    You can see this demonstrated in the following video from about 2.35 on.



    ok, it doesn't really demonstrate it at all, but hey its related, and if you don't know it, its such a glorious short that its worth watching the whole thing :p
     
  8. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Hahahaha.
     
  9. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    There is no change. The boat, lake and stone comprise a closed system.
     
  10. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

  11. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Don't stake too much money on that proposition. :D
     
  12. Angélique
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    Angélique aka Angel (only by name)

    Same kind of question was asked before, the lake's water level drops . . :idea:

    P.S. - See post #22 & #24 for the explanation there.
     
  13. ImaginaryNumber
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    ImaginaryNumber Imaginary Member

    As a thought experiment, assume the 'stone' is made of whatever a neutron star is made of (extremely high density), and thus is microscopic in volume. How will throwing it overboard change, or not change, the level of the lake?
     
  14. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    The same result, presumably, if the boat doesn't sink first !
     

  15. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Why postulate on the ridiculously impossible?
     
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