Quote:
Originally posted by KnifeMissle
There are two problems with your approach, onetime2.
First, it will only work if the volume you are filling has a constant horizontal cross-sectional area. For instance, it will work with a cylinder on its flat side or a rectangular prism. In fact, it will work with any polygonal prism with its flat side down. However, it will not work for shapes like a sphere, or a cone.
In this instance, we are talking about a cylinder with the curve "side" down and, in this instance, your idea simply will not work. Think about it...
Secondly, your method is quite involved and will disturb the very system you're trying to observe. You would find the volume of the water by filling the container with water. So, if you had that specific amount of water in the barrel for a reason, you've just that up by filling the barrel. Besides, filling a tank with a measured amount of fluid is a lot of work. Isn't it simpler to just figure out the volume as a function of fluid depth?
|
Correct me if I'm wrong here but a "cylinder with the curved side down" has a curved side up as well. If it's split in the middle aren't both sides mirror images of each other? Additionally, wouldn't a sphere split in the middle have each half as mirror images?
__________________
Strive to be more curious than ignorant.
Last edited by onetime2; 05-17-2004 at 05:15 AM..
|