Chapter 19, Problem 40A

Would the water level in a canal lock go up or down if a ship in the lock were to sink?

To determine

To identify: Whether the level of water in canal lock if ship in the lock were to sink.

Answer to Problem 40A

Water level falls in the canal due to sinking of ship.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Archimedes principle: This principle state that the water displaced from container is equal to the weight of object.

When an object float in the water, it displaces water which is equal to weight of floating object, and this displaced water volume is greater than volume of object. On the other hand when an object submerged in liquid, then volume of displaced water is equal to volume of submerged object. Hence if the ship in a lock were to sink than level of water will fall in canal because floating object has greater buoyancy force than submerged object.

Conclusion:

Water falls in the canal due to sinking of ship.