Exploring Our Fluid Earth

Materials

• Table 8.2
• Table 8.3
• 100 g oil-based modeling clay
• 100 g chunk of metal
• 100 g piece of wood
• Scale or balance
• Graduate cylinder or beaker with graduated markings
• Overflow container or drink pitcher with spout
• Liquid detergent
• Large tray
• Calculator
• Additional 100 g samples of materials (optional)
• Water
• Towels

Additional Materials for Part B

• Small, wide plastic or metal containers (e.g., food containers, wide cups)
• Small weights of uniform size (e.g., pennies, washers, pellets)
• Tape
• Bucket
• Ruler

Procedures

A. Determine the net buoyancy force.

1. Obtain approximately 100 g of clay. Shape the clay into a sphere. Weigh the clay on the balance and record in Table 8.2.
    
2. Calculate the Gravitational Force exerted on the object in Newtons (N) using the formula:
    

   Gravitational force = (mass of the object) x (0.01 N / g)

   Record the Gravitational Force in Table 8.2.
    

3. Predict whether the clay sphere will sink or float in a container of water. Record your prediction in Table 8.2.
    
4. Test your prediction.
   
   1. Place the overflow container in a large tray.
   2. Fill the container with water until it just starts to overflow. Add a drop of liquid detergent to decrease the surface tension of the water.
   3. Place the empty beaker near the spout of the overflow container.
   4. Place the clay sphere into the overflow container.
   5. Measure the volume of water displaced by the object.
       
5. Calculate the weight of the water displaced by the object using the conversion 1 ml of water weighs 1 gram. Record your answer in Table 8.2.
    
6. Calculate the Buoyancy Force of the displaced water in Newtons using the following formula:
   

   Buoyancy Force = (mass of displaced water) x (0.01 N/ g)

   Record the Buoyancy Force in Table 8.2.
    

7. Calculate the Net Buoyancy Force and record in Table 8.2. Note a positive Net Buoyancy Force indicates a sinking object. A negative Net Buoyancy Force indicates a floating object. Use the following formula.
   

   Net Buoyancy Force = Gravitational Force – Buoyancy Force

8. Repeat steps 1–7 for the metal, wood, and a hollow clay boat. Record your predictions, observations, and calculations in Table 8.2. Add additional rows to Table 8.2 if you would like to test additional materials.

B. Carrying capacity of ships.

1. Tape a small weight on the bottom center of a small, wide container to help balance the container. This container will be your ship.
    
2. Record the weight of your ship.
    
3. Calculate the Gravitational Force, Buoyancy Force, and Net Buoyancy Force for your zero cargo load ship, following procedure A. Record your results in Table 8.3.
    
4. Predict the carrying capacity of your ship under full cargo load. The carrying capacity is the total mass the ship will carry without sinking.
    
5. Determine the volume of water that your ship displaces when it is just about to sink in milliliters. Use one of the following methods.
   
   1. Measure the dimensions of your ship in centimeters and use the equation (1 cm3 = 1 ml) to determine volume.
   2. Place your ship in the overflow container and measure the volume of water that is displaced when you push the ship down until it is nearly submerged.
       
6. Use the volume of your submerged ship to calculate the full cargo load Buoyancy Force as outlined in procedure A. Record your calculations Table 8.3.
    
7. Using the equations below, determine the cargo carrying capacity of your ship. Under a full cargo load, the Net Buoyancy Force is equal to zero (i.e. neither sinking or floating). Note that you are solving for ‘mass of cargo’ (in bold) in the following equations.
   

   Net Buoyancy Force = Gravitational Force – Buoyancy Force

   Net Buoyancy Force = [(Mass of the object) * (0.01 N / g)] – [(mass of displaced water) * (0.01 N / g)]

   Net Buoyancy Force = [(mass of boat + mass of cargo) * (0.01 Newtons / g)] – [(mass of displaced water) * (0.01 N / g)]

8. Record the full cargo Gravitational Force in Table 8.3.
    
9. Test your predictions.
   
   1. Place your ship in the bucket.
   2. Slowly add weight evenly to the ship. Record the maximum amount of mass your ship holds before sinking.