Question

A cork floats on the surface of an incompressible liquid in acontainer exposed to atmospheric pressure. The container is thensealed and the air above the liquid is evacuated. The cork:
A) sinks slightly
B) rises slightly
C) floats at the same height
D) bobs up and down about its old position
E) behaves erratically

Answer 1

Answer:

The cork:

C) floats at the same height

Explanation:

The law of floatation states that an object will float when it displaces its own weight of fluid in which it floats e.g. the weight of the object is equal to the displaced liquid. With this definition it is clear that the cork will float at the same height because the evacuated air has little or no effect on the cork floating on the surface of the incompressible liquid.