Question

A 6 lb. bowling ball has a volume of 5,452 cm3. What happens when it is dropped into a vat of water?

The bowling ball will _____ because __________. (1 lb = 453.59 g)

a. Sink, it is heavy

b. Sink, it is more dense than water

c. Float, it is light enough to float

d. Float, it is less dense than water

Answer 1

1.

let first compute the density of bowling ball

we have

mass of bowling ball = 6 lb = 6 x 453.59 gm = 2721.54 gm (1 lb = 453.59 gm)

volume of bowling ball = 5452 cm³ = 5452 ml (1 cm³ = 1 ml )

and we know

density of bowling ball = mass of bowling ball / volume of bowling ball

density = 2721.54 / 5452 = 0.499

and as we know density of water = 1 gm/ml

The density of an object determines whether it will float or sink in another substance. An object will float if it is less dense than the liquid it is placed in. An object will sink if it is more dense than the liquid it is placed in..

hence in this density of bowling ball is less than density of water and it is  less dense than water.

so bowling ball will float because it is less dense than water

so option (d) is correct..