A small barge is being used to transport trucks across a river. If the barge is 10.00 m long by 8.00 m wide and sinks an additional 3.85 cm into the river when a loaded truck pulls onto it, determine the weight of the truck and load.

30214 N

Explanation:

To start with, we solve this problem by applying Archimedes’ principle. We say that the weight of the truck and the weight of load is equal to the weight of the additional water displaced when the truck and the load moves onto the barge. Thus,

Volume of water displaced = 10.00 m * 8.00 m * 0.0385 m = 3.08 m³.

Density of water = 1000kg/m³

Mass of water displaced = volume * density

Mass of water displaced = 3.08 * 1000 = 3080 kg

Weight of water displaced (mg) = 3080 x 9.81 = 30214 N

Therefore, the Weight of truck + load = 30214 N