A large fiberglass tank was placed in a pit, as shown below. Before pipes could be attached and the tank filled with gasoline, however, the workers were asked to move the heavy tank to another location.
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Which of the following methods would be the best way to raise the tank off the bottom of the pit so that cables could be placed under the tank? |
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1. |
Fill the tank with gasoline. |
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2. |
Fill the tank with water. |
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3. |
Fill the pit with water. |
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4. |
Fill the pit with water and fill the tank with gasoline. |
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5. |
Fill both the pit and the tank with water. |
Answer: 3
To be buoyant, an object must displace an amount of liquid at least equal to its weight. Any action that makes the tank heavier than the weight of the liquid it displaces will prevent the tank from floating. All the alternatives except (3) will make the tank heavier than the weight of the liquid displaced. Therefore, only (3) will allow the tank to float off the bottom of the pit.
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