A wooden cube of side length floats in a beaker that contains of water

PHYSICS · Single correct · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Force and Translational Dynamics · Force and Translational Dynamics

Problem

0.40\,\text{kg}

wooden cube of side length

0.10\,\text{m}

floats in a beaker that contains

1.0\,\text{kg}

of water. The beaker rests on a scale. The entire system is then carried in an elevator that moves downward with a constant acceleration of

2.0\,\text{m/s}^2

. Assuming the cube does not touch the beaker’s walls, which of the following is closest to the reading shown on the scale while the elevator accelerates? (a)

14\,\text{N}

(b)

7.8\,\text{N}

(c)

11\,\text{N}

(d)

9.8\,\text{N}

Related theory

Buoyant Force
Fluid Statics
Mass, Weight & Apparent Weight
Gravitation
Conservation of energy
Buoyancy and Archimedes' principle
Buoyancy

Browse the problem library