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A flask of water rests on a scale that reads 100 N. Then, a small block of unkno

ID: 1269769 • Letter: A

Question

A flask of water rests on a scale that reads 100 N. Then, a small block of unknown material is held completely submerged in the water. The block does not touch any part of the flask, and the person holding the block will not tell you whether the block is being pulled up (keeping it from falling further) or pushed down (keeping it from bobbing back up). Assume that no water spills out of the flask. (Figure 1)

What is the new reading on the scale?

What is the new reading on the scale?

greater than 100 N 100 N less than 100 N It is impossible to determine.

Explanation / Answer

It is greater than 100n

imagine that the block is attached to a rod that also has a scale.
if the block is a sinking one, it will weigh less in the water according to the scale that it is attached to since everything weighs less in water than in air.
if the block is one that floats, its scale will regester less weight by an even greater degree (a negative one).
the total of the two scales will always be the same, even when the block is lifted from the water.

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