Fluids Questions
1. What is the relationship between liquid pressure and the depth of a liquid?
2. How does the volume of a submerged object compare to the volume of water displaced?
3. How does the buoyant force on a submerged object compare to the weight of water displaced?
4. If the buoyant force on a submerged object if less than the weight of the object, how do the
densities of the object and water compare?
5. How much water is displaced by a 100 ton ship?
6. You know that a sharp knife cuts better than a dull knife. Use physics to explain why.
7. A piece of iron placed on a block of wood makes it float lower in water. If the iron were
instead suspended beneath the wood, would it float as low, lower, or higher? Defend your
answer.
8. Why do some high school and college gyms have signs stating that no high heels are allowed
in the gym?
9. What is the purpose of snowshoes (use physics)?
10. In a ballpoint pen, ink moves down a tube to the tip, where it is spread on a sheet of paper by
a rolling stainless steel ball. Near the top of the ink cartridge, there is a small hole open to
the atmosphere. If you seal this hole, you will find that the pen no longer functions. Explain
using physics. What is this like that we discussed in class?
11. How does the “atomizer” in perfume bottles work?
12. Prairie Dogs live in underground burrows with at least two entrances. One entrance is
higher above ground and open to a stream of air when a breeze blows from any direction. A
second entrance at ground level is open to almost stagnant air. How does this construction
create an airflow through the burrow?
13. Colloquially, we say a nurse uses a syringe to “draw” blood. Why is it more accurate to say
that a syringe is used to “accept” blood?
14. When you are driving a small car on the freeway and a truck passes you at high speed, why
do you feel pulled toward the truck?
15. Tornadoes and hurricanes often lift the roofs off houses. Why?