Why Alu tank float?

[jbichsel]

A mim is walking through the forest and a tree falls on him.

Does anyone care?

 

[miketsp]

A mim is walking through the forest

OK, you got me really curious. What's a "mim"? :11:
Couldn't find anything that made sense...

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[HydroAuto]

Perhaps the 'e' key eluded him... mime?

 

[Ian Binnie]

Two words: Archimedes Principle.

 

[cdennyb]

Here's one for you...I'm getting a couple of glass fiber wrapped tanks from Luxfer for testing and they weigh next to nothing! But I have to fill them to 4350 to get the full capacity in them. Funny thing though, they're a little smaller than the 72 steel tank and hold more than the 80 alum! Go figure. The paper says they should be about 2 pounds positive when empty and about 2 pounds neg when full. Should be an interesting test.
db

 

[nyresq]

Two words: Archimedes Principle.

did his principal float? was he also the swim team coach?

I don't see what a school administrator has to do with a steel vs aluminum question......

 

[yc92602]

Two words: Archimedes Principle.

It's not that simple to understand. The question should be asked like this:

Why the aluminum tank is heavier than steel tank, and still have more buoyancy?

Or, assuming the same capacity, working pressure, and buoyancy (by adding weight), why the aluminum tank is much heavier than the steel tank?

And the only answer is that the steel is much stronger, and steel tanks have a much thinner wall. This is why steel tank with similar capacity and working pressure, and similar external diameter, is several inches shorter, because their internal diameter is larger than aluminum ones.

 

[Ian Binnie]

It's not that simple to understand. The question should be asked like this:

Why the aluminum tank is heavier than steel tank, and still have more buoyancy?

Or, assuming the same capacity, working pressure, and buoyancy (by adding weight), why the aluminum tank is much heavier than the steel tank?

And the only answer is that the steel is much stronger, and steel tanks have a much thinner wall. This is why steel tank with similar capacity and working pressure, and similar external diameter, is several inches shorter, because their internal diameter is larger than aluminum ones.

I looked again at the original poster's question. Your first restatement is accurate and is also answered by understanding Archimedes principle. (Note that the cylinders are empty in the original poster's question.) Your second restatement asks a slightly different question, but this is also largely answered by understanding Archimedes Principle.

 

[RichLockyer]

If both aluminum and steel tanks are rated at the same pressure and (uncompressed) air volume, their actual internal volume must be the same. This is pure physics and must be true.

Now, why the aluminum tank is usually heavier and more buoyant? The only explanation is that the wall of an aluminum tank is much thicker, and this is mainly because the AL is not as strong as steel.

Bingo.

You are correct.

 

[RichLockyer]

Now just to see if you got it.
A man goes out on a lake in a boat carrying 20lbs of ice.
He throws the ice into the water.
The ice melts.
Describe what happens to the water level of the lake in relation to the bank throughout the process.

Slight rise in level as he and the boat enter the water. After that, there is no change until he and the boat leave the water.

There is no change when he puts the ice into the water, and there is no change as the ice melts.

This can be easily demonstrated with a bowl and a large chunk of ice.