March 14th, 2010 | portal.cgkz.com | edit
Will styrofoam experience a strong upward lift force if there are no water molecules underneath it?
a styrofoam rectangular block. submerged underwater. hypotheticaly - there is no water trapped under the block,but all other surfaces are in direct contact with water. will the styrofoam block experience upward buoyancy force based on other reasons (material density..e.t.c.)By virtue of density alone, the styrofoam block would rise to the surface. You have to understand that even with a "still" container of water, the molecules are always moving (Brownian Motion). Hence, there will be micro currents. Even if one were able to fully submerge a Styrofoam block such that it laid flush with the bottom of the container, currents would push the "not very dense" block with unequal forces on each side and once a minute amount of water is able to get underneath, that causes instability, which leads to more water rushing underneath. The buoyancy caused by that, coupled with the density difference (which is enough on it's own to keep the the block from staying at the bottom) causes it to rise even more quickly.
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