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| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
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Question from sara, a parent: a rectangular tank 30 cm long and 20 cm wide is filled with water to a depth of 8 cm. When a stone was put in, the water level rose to 11 cm. Find the volume of the stone. (Assume that the stone is completely under water.) |
Hi Sara,
When the stone is placed in the water it displaces some of the water. If the stone doesn't absorb any of the water then the displaced water has a volume equal to the volume of the stone. The displaced water causes the water level to rise, in your case it rises 11 - 8 = 3 cm. Hence the volume of the stone is equal to the volume of the displaced water which is a slab of water 30 cm by 20 cm by 3 cm.
I hope this helps,
Penny
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