When 10 ml of water is added to paraffin in a measuring cylinder, the center of gravity (CG) of the system (the combined mass of paraffin and water) will change due to the difference in density between the two substances.
Here’s how it works:
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Understanding the Center of Gravity: The center of gravity is the point where the total weight of a body acts. For a uniform object, this point is usually at the geometric center. When substances of different densities are combined, the center of gravity shifts based on the distribution of mass.
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Density Considerations: Paraffin is less dense than water. When you add water to paraffin in a cylinder, the water will typically sink to the bottom because it is denser than the paraffin, causing the overall mass distribution to change.
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Initial Condition: Initially, let’s assume the paraffin is in the cylinder by itself. The center of gravity of the paraffin is located somewhere within the mass of the paraffin.
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Adding Water: When you add the water:
- The total mass of the system increases because you are introducing more matter (water).
- The water collects at the bottom of the cylinder, below the paraffin, which has a lower density. This additional mass (the water) shifts the overall center of gravity downward, towards the water.
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Resulting Shift: The addition of the denser water will cause the center of gravity of the system (paraffin + water) to move downwards since the water's weight pulls down the CG further than it would be with just paraffin. The exact new position of the center of gravity can be calculated if the specific volumes and densities of both substances are known.
In summary, the center of gravity of the mixture shifts downward as a result of the addition of the denser water at the bottom of the cylinder, changing the overall weight distribution of the system.