Question

You are part of team designing a small submarine that will descend to a depth of 40 m in the waters (temp 20 °C) off the New Jersey shore. The submarine (mass 32000 kg, volume 30 m3) sinks on its own. To return to the surface the submarine will inflate an external balloon with 1000 moles of air.
a. Draw force diagrams for the ascent of the submarine back to the surface. Choose the system of interest to be the submarine+balloon. Include more than one diagram if you think it is necessary.
b. Draw a motion diagram for the ascent of the submarine back to the surface.
c. Determine the acceleration of the submarine the moment the balloon is completely full with air. State any significant assumptions you make.
d. Is this acceleration likely to increase, decrease, or remain the same as the submarine returns to the surface? Explain your reasoning. (Based on your thinking about this question you might want to go back and revise your force diagram(s) and motion diagram).

Answer 1