Question

A cubical block of ice floating in water has to support a metal piece weighing $0.5kg$, What can be the minimum edge of the block so that it does not sink in water? Specific gravity of ice $=0.9$.

Answer 1

Weight once block+weight of metal piece$=$upthrust on 100% volume of the ice cube.

Let $a=$side of ice cube. Then

$[\left(a^3\right)\times 900\times g+0.5g]=\left(a^3\right)\left(1000\right)\left(g\right)$
$\therefore$ $a^3=(5\times {10}^{-3})$ m${}^3$
or $a\simeq 0.17$ m or $17$ cm