An ocean-going barge is 50.0 m long and 20.0 m wide with a mass of 145 metric tons. Will the barge clear a reef that is 1.50 m below the surface of the water?

Since its mass is 145 metric tons, the barge must displace 145 metric tons of water in order to float. 145 metric tons= 145,000 kilograms. Use the rough-but-close rule of thumb that 1 liter of water has 1 kilogram of mass. So the barge displaces 145,000 liters, which is also 145 cubic meters of water.
(Length) x (width) x (depth of the part under water) = 145 cubic meters
**Draft **of the barge (depth under water) = 145 / (50 x 20) = 145/70 = 2.07 meters .
No, it will not clear the reef 1.5 meters below the surface. Either the barge will shave off the top 0.57 meter of the reef, or else the reef will do serious damage to the barge. In any case, there will be a situation.

Answered by AL2006 | 2024-06-10

The barge, with a draft of 0.145 m, is able to clear the reef that is 1.50 m below the surface. There is actually 1.355 m of clearance above the reef. Therefore, it is safe for the barge to pass over the reef.
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Answered by AL2006 | 2025-05-30