Blame azrhey

[swestrup]

She posted a physics conundrum in her journal, so I've decided to post one of my favorites:

A swimming pool full of water has a row-boat floating in it. The rowboat is just barely managing to float (the boats sides are almost underwater) because a large lead weight is sitting in the boat. The slightest wave will spill water into the boat, causing it and its cargo to sink to the bottom of the pool. If this happens, after all the waves have settled down, will the level of the pool have gone up, gone down, or stayed the same?

Comments

[denizsarikaya.livejournal.com]

Altitude of the boat above water level, you mean? I was basically considering volumetric displacement of a boat full of water versus a boat full of air. That's what I was thinking of.

[sps.livejournal.com]

No, I mean the altitude of the boat above the datum (sea level, whatever).

[denizsarikaya.livejournal.com]

I was assuming, given the constraints, that was very close to zero (and the boat was possibly shaped in a strange manner for this to occur). We could subtract out the volume of the boat which is above the datum, and ought, for accuraciy's sake, but my instincts say it would be less than the volume of the interior of the boat, unless the lead weight were friggin' huge.

[sps.livejournal.com]

Now I'm confused.

As the post's title indicates...

[denizsarikaya.livejournal.com]

Blame azrhey!

Re: As the post's title indicates...

[swestrup]

See clarification below.