If a piece of metal having a specific gravity of 13.6 is placed inmerc...
If a piece of metal with a specific gravity of 13.6 is placed in mercury with a specific gravity of 13.6, the metal piece will be completely immersed with its top surface just at the level of the mercury. This can be explained by understanding the concept of buoyancy and the principle of Archimedes.
Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by a fluid on an object immersed in it. It is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. According to Archimedes' principle, when a body is immersed in a fluid, it experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces.
In this case, both the metal piece and mercury have the same specific gravity of 13.6. Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance, usually water. Since the specific gravity of the metal is the same as that of mercury, it means that their densities are equal.
Now, let's analyze the options given:
a) The metal piece will sink to the bottom: This is not possible because the specific gravity of the metal and mercury are the same. If the metal were denser than the mercury, it would sink to the bottom.
b) The metal piece will simply float over the mercury with no immersion: This is not possible either. If the metal were less dense than the mercury, it would float on the surface.
c) The metal piece will be immersed in mercury by half: This is also not possible because the specific gravity of the metal and mercury are the same. If the metal were partially immersed, it would mean that its density is different from that of mercury.
d) The whole of the metal piece will be immersed with its top surface just at the mercury level: This is the correct answer. Since the metal and mercury have the same specific gravity, their densities are equal. Therefore, when the metal is immersed in mercury, it displaces an equal amount of mercury, resulting in the metal being fully immersed with its top surface just at the level of the mercury.
In conclusion, when a metal piece with a specific gravity of 13.6 is placed in mercury with the same specific gravity, the metal piece will be fully immersed with its top surface just at the level of the mercury.
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