Question

Under the right conditions, it is possible, due to surface tension,to have metal objects float on water. Consider placing a shortlength of a small diameter steel ( γ = 490 lb/ft3)rod on a surface of water. What is the maximum diameter that therod can have before it will sink? Assume that the surface tensionforces act vertically upward. Note: A standard paper cliphas a diameter of 0.036 in. Partially unfold a paper clip and seeif you can get it to float on water. Do the results of thisexperiment support your analysis?

Answer 1

Answer:

A) 0.0614 inches

b) The standard steel paper clip should float on water

Explanation:

The maximum diameter that the rod can have before it will sink

we can calculate this using this formula :

D = $(\frac{8\alpha }{\pi y } )^{\frac{1}{2} }$ ----- 1

∝ = value of surface tension of water at 60⁰f  = 5.03×10^−3  lb/ft

y = 490 Ib/ft^3

input the given values into equation 1 above

D = $(\frac{8*(5.3*10^{-3}) }{\pi *490 } )^{\frac{1}{2} }$

   = 5.11 * 10^-3 ft   convert to inches

   = 5.11 *10^-3 ( 12 in/ 1 ft ) = 0.0614 inches

B) The diameter of a standard paper Cliphas = 0.036 inches

and the diameter of the rod = 0.0614. Hence the standard steel paper clip should float on water