Question

There is a beaker completely filled with water (beaker #1). Then in another beaker a block of wood is gently lowered into the beaker until it floats on its own (beaker #2). Both beakers are sitting on scales. Explain what happens to the reading on the scale after the block floats in the water (beaker #2), compared to the original reading (beaker #1). Assume any water that is displaced from the beaker drains to the floor. Limit your answer to a maximum of one written page. Hint: Think along the lines of Archimede’s principle.

Answer 1