Patrick Elliott <sel### [at] rraznet> wrote:
> Without knowing the size of the boat, the actual weight of the ball, and 
> thus what the displacement will be from that, its not possible to 
> project if the water will be "more" or "less" displaced by the inclusion 
> of an entire cannon ball in the pool, versus a few millimeters of boat 
> sinking slightly more into the water from the weight.

  The size of the boat nor the weight of the ball make any difference on
the original question: The original question didn't ask how much the water
level changes, it only asks if the water raises or lowers. To answer this
question the only information needed is whether the cannonball has higher
density than water or not. Since cannonballs are made of metal, the answer
is yes. Thus its weight displaces more water than its volume, and thus
the answer is that the water level lowers.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message