A supertanker filled with oil has a total mass of 14.1·10^8 kg. If the dimensions of the ship are those of a rectangular box 271 m long, 93.1 m wide, and 93.1 m high, determine how far the bottom of the ship is below sea level (ρsea = 1020 kg/m^3).

Answer 1

Let x be the length that is below the sea. Archimedes' Principle says (for a floating object) that:

Total Mass
= (displaced volume)*(fluid density)
= area*x*(sea density)

x = 14.1*10^8/[(93.1*271*1020)
= 54.8 m