Consider a solid object of uniform mass density whose outer surface is a revolved parabola, and whose top is a flat circular disk. The object is initially upright and at rest, with its vertex touching the surface of a body of water.
The object falls into the water, and has zero speed at the instant it becomes fully submerged. What is the ratio of the density of the object to the density of the water (to 3 decimal places)?
Details and Assumptions:
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Let us call:
First, if we assume that the paraboloid follows the relation by a constant a :
H = a R 2
Then, also:
y = a x 2
Dividing both equations:
x 2 = H R 2 y
Writing the differential equation of the paraboloid, since its displaced volume is 2 π x 2 y :
m d t d v = m g − ρ H 2 O g 2 π x 2 y
d t d v = g − ρ H 2 O g 2 m H π R 2 y 2
Let us define:
k ≜ ρ H 2 O g 2 m H π R 2
d t d v = g − k y 2
d y d v d t d y = g − k y 2
d y d v v = g − k y 2
v d v = ( g − k y 2 ) d y
Since at y = 0 , v is also 0 (paraboloid begins at rest):
∫ 0 v v d v = ∫ 0 y ( g − k y 2 ) d y
2 v 2 = g y − 3 k y 3
At y = H (instant in which paraboloid is fully submerged), v is also equal to 0 :
0 = g H − 3 k H 3
H 2 = k 3 g
H 2 = 3 g π R 2 g ρ H 2 O 2 m H
2 π R 2 H 3 m = ρ H 2 O
3 ρ p a r = ρ H 2 O
ρ H 2 O ρ p a r = 3 1 = 0 . 3 3