Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoppy
Let's assume I fill my 100 gallon tank with water - 800 pounds or so of water. Then I pour 135 pounds of Flourite in the tank. I end up with a lot of water on the floor, my wife threatening me, me contemplating jumping off a bridge, but I don't then have 935 pounds of stuff in the tank. I have 935 pounds less however much water spilled on the floor. The tank is still full as it was before I added the Flourite. So, didn't I add less than 135 pounds to the tank? Therefore the Flourite weighs a lot less in the tank than not in the tank.
If this seems hard to believe, please conduct this experiment  (I will hide out for a few months just to be safe, in case you tell your wife I egged you on to it.) |
Let's assume flourite is twice as dense as water.
800 lbs (100 gallons, 23100 cubic inches) + 80 lbs (5 gallons, 1155 cubic inches)
You lose 5 gallons (1155 cubic inches) of water (40 pounds) leaving 760 pounds of water and 80 pounds of flourite to account for the 840 total pounds.
I think.