Floating block in accelerating elevator · PhysicsBowl 2025 #28
Physics · fluid-mechanics
Problem
A container filled with water is placed in an elevator. When the elevator is at rest, a small block floats in the water with 50% of its volume submerged. If the elevator accelerates up with a constant acceleration of 0.1g, what percentage of the block's volume will be submerged? Treat water as an incompressible fluid.
a. 5%
b. 45%
c. 50%
d. 55%
e. 95%