Question 26

[ninomiya]

ok i know this is probably nitpicking, i was going to pick "I only" as the answer but picked "I II III" instead because of the reasoning below (and probably just overthought)

seeing how the depth of the beaker (or the level of water inside) is not given, isn't it theoretically possible for II or III to be true, if the water level is so low (ie. not enough water can be displaced to create the max buoyancy) that the object (even with equal or even lower density) will just sit at the bottom of the beaker? (yes i know all the water inside would just be spilled out, but still it's possible?)

[admin]

Your reasoning is interesting but it is not consistent with the question and the passage. The question refers to Beaker A. Regarding this beaker, the passage states:

[maxsati7049]

If the densities were equal will the object be suspended half way in the container???

[mcat_premed3832]

If the densities are equal, then it would NOT be submerged 1/2 way, it will be 100% submerged. It's as if it is water (same density) therefore it will be completely below the surface of water. The math that is used most often in the MCAT is, if you have a specific gravity of 1 (same density as water) then it would be 100% submerged; SG of .9 then 90% submerged (height); .5 then 50% submerged and so on.

[maxsati7049]

That's for the reply but I don't think I asked my question the right way...I understood if the densities were equal then the object will be completely submerged, however, will the object be all the way on the bottom of the container resting, half way suspended in the container, or more nearer the surface?

[mcat_premed3832]

As long as it is below the surface, it could be anywhere.

[admin]

Bump.