Please someone settle this argument between my husband and my son.
If a wooden boat loaded with a barrel of water, floats fine on the water. If the water leaks from the barrel into the boat itself will it sink?
Thanks in advance
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No, the weight of the barrel of water is equal to the weight of the water that is leaked. It has the same mass before and after. If it floated fine on water before, then it should float fine after water has leaked onto the boat. However, if there is a lot of water that over fills the boat to the point where water is leaking from it, and excess water from the surrounding is gained, then maybe it will sink. Otherwise, no.
No unless the water was choppy.
There was an issue with a ferry sailing to Belgium where a cargo door wasn’t closed in heavy weather. some water leaked into the car deck and started to slosh around. In fine weather the boat would have made it, but the combination of riding the swells and the water sloshing internally finally capsized her.
The weight of the water is the same whether it is in the barrel or not. Adding weight to the boat makes it displace more water (the water comes up higher on the side). If the weight is enough, the water gets to the top of the boat, and it sinks. Just the fact that some water is in the boat doesn’t mean it will sink.
Hey nrgnerqu. . . that boat was the HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE, and I’d been on it (fortunately not on that crossing!). And you’re right, it depends how the water acts within the vessel . . . if it is contained & securely tied in it would be less chaotic than if it was sloshing around causing changes to the boats center of gravity and stability.
No difference will take place as you are keeping the same mass on the boat