Conceptual Physics (12th Edition)

Published by Addison-Wesley
ISBN 10: 0321909100
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-910-7

Chapter 13 - Think and Explain - Page 261-263: 85

Answer

If the floating ice has a mass of m grams, it displaces m grams of water. After it melts, it becomes m grams of water. Hence the water level is unchanged. The same argument holds true for air-filled ice cubes. The air has negligible mass, so the floating air-filled cube displaces m grams of water, and melts down to m grams of water. If the ice cube contains grains of heavy sand, the water level drops after the ice melts. The sand will displace a greater amount of water while floating, embedded inside the cube, than when submerged. A floating sand grain displaces its own weight of water, which takes up more space than the grain's own volume. When the sand is submerged, it displaces only its own volume.
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