SOLUTION: A cargo ship carrying scrap iron was floating in a water-tight lock in the canal. The crewmen were angry at the captain because they not been allowed ashore for many weeks. The cre

Question 252955: A cargo ship carrying scrap iron was floating in a water-tight lock in the canal. The crewmen were angry at the captain because they not been allowed ashore for many weeks. The crew mutinied and threw the scrap iron cargo overboard.
Did the water level in the lock rise, did it descend, or did it remain the same?
Found 2 solutions by drk, Greenfinch:
Answer by drk(1908) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is reminiscent of the Archimedes story about the golden crown. Was it fake or not? After thinking for several days, Archimedes went to the bathhouse. He got into the bath and saw the water rise . . .Eureka! he shouted and ran down the street. HE realized that when you put something into water that is heavier - more dense - then the displacement of water is equal to the volume of the object.
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This is the same question. The water will rise by the same displacement of the total density or volume of the metal (iron).
Answer by Greenfinch(383) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In the boat the iron displaces its own weight of water, in the water it displaces its own volume in water. Since its density is much greater than 1, it will displace more water when it is in the boat than when it is in the water. the boat will therefore rise by the loss of weight and the water will drop accordingly, the water will rise by the volume of iron but this is much less and the overall result is a drop in the water level and a very angry lock keeper who wants to know is going to clean it all up so the next boat doesn't hit the iron.
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