Question

I am in a small boat fishing. I run into a floating log and punch a hole in the bottom of my boat. The hole is 1.2 inches in diameter and the water is flowing in at a speed of 1 meter per minute. The boat can hold 500 gallons (but we don’t want it to). I have a 12 oz can and can bail water out at 3 cans per minute. Will the boat ever fill completely up (and sink), if so how long will it take?

Answer 1

Rate of water flowing in is 1 meter per minute

Hole diameter = 1.2 inches = 0.03048 m

The flow rate of water in litres per minute (Q) = Av

A is cross section area of pipe =

v is speed of water in m/minute 1 m per minute

Q = 7.3 x 10^-4 x 1 = 7.3 x 10^-4 m³/ minute

1 m³ = 1000L

So, Q in litres = 7.3 x 10^-4 x 1000 = 0.73 litres per minute

Can capacity = 12 Oz

Water thrown out = 3 cans per minute

Water going rate = 3 x 12 = 36 oz per minute = 1.0647litres per minute

Since te water going out rate is more than water coming inside rate. So, the boat will never sink.