A ball is made of a material of density ρ where ρoil<ρ<ρwater with ρoil and ρwater representing the densities of oil and water, respectively. The oil and water are immiscible. If the above ball is in equilibrium in a mixture of this oil and water, which of the following pictures represents its equilibrium position?
(A)(see structure)
(B)(see structure)✓ Correct
(C)(see structure)
(D)(see structure)
Answer: (B)
Solution
Because oil is lighter than water and the two do not mix, they settle into layers with oil floating on the water. The ball's density lies between the two values, so it is too heavy to float up in the oil yet too light to sink through the water. It comes to rest straddling the boundary, floating at the oil-water interface with part of it in each liquid, which is the arrangement shown in the second figure.
JEE Main · 2010 · 11 Apr 2010 · Offline · Single correct option