Halliday, Resnick & Walker — Fluids: Problem Problem_47

The volume of air space in the passenger compartment of an 1800 kg car is \(5.00 \text{ m}^3\). The volume of the motor and front wheels is \(0.750 \text{ m}^3\), and the volume of the rear wheels, gas tank, and trunk is \(0.800 \text{ m}^3\); water cannot enter these two regions. The car rolls into a lake. (a) At first, no water enters the passenger compartment. How much of the car, in cubic meters, is below the water surface with the car floating (Fig. 14.23)? (b) As water slowly enters, the car sinks. How many cubic meters of water are in the car as it disappears below the water surface? (The car, with a heavy load in the trunk, remains horizontal.)