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How long for a ship to sink? 20th November, 2012
𝑣𝑒𝑖 𝑃𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑖 𝑃𝑎
+ 𝑔𝑧𝑒𝑖 + = + 𝑔𝑧𝑎𝑖 + , (4)
2 𝜌𝑒 2 𝜌𝑎 Conclusion
the quantities v, g, z, P, ρ, A, respectively A time to sink of T = 25 minutes is certainly
represent velocity of water flow (in vertical not unreasonable, thus confirming that this
direction), acceleration due to gravity near could be a potentially useful algorithm,
the Earth’s surface, vertical distance of especially when one considers that the times
descent of the ship into the water (after taken for ships to sink are well known to be of
perforation), pressure, density, and area of the order of tens of minutes. This algorithm
entrance or exit to a given ith segment. The would of course be subject to further
subscripts e and a respectively represent the developments, such as taking account of more
position of entrance of water into a segment, complicated ship geometries for more
and position of exit of water from a segment. accurate calculations, perhaps done with a
zai is definitively equal to zero. Also, note zei is computer program for more iterations of N, to
a positive measure of how far the ship sinks make the calculation as accurate as possible.
below the water line after the ith segment is One would also again have to take account of
filled. One can know both vei and Aei (possibly the mass of objects (including people) on
from measurement) at the perforation site, board the ships, which should be added to the
and after calculate Aei and Aai from considering original mass of the ships before sinking,
the geometry of the ship segments and vai can especially as the ship would likely to be
be calculated from the conservation of mass abandoned by people along with lifeboats
flow rate [7]: which are heavy, etc. These would need to be
𝑣𝑒𝑖 𝐴𝑒𝑖 = 𝑣𝑎𝑖 𝐴𝑎𝑖 . (5) accounted for in more accurate calculations.
The time taken to fill this segment is finally
calculated using: References
𝑧𝑒𝑖 − 𝐻(𝑖−1) [1] Pedro Menéndez de Avilés Captain
∆𝑡𝑖 = . (6)
𝑣𝑒𝑖 General of the Open Sea, A.C. Manucy,
The new mass used (representing the mass of Pineapple Press 1992, (Page 100)
the ship plus water inside) once a segment is [2] http://www.titanicuniverse.com/titanic-
filled is: newspaper-articles (accessed 20/11/2012)
𝑚𝑆𝑖 = 𝑚𝑆(𝑖−1) + ∆𝑚𝑠 , (7) [3]
where ΔmS is given in equation (3). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UarOFggL
Subsequently from calculating the new qMg (accessed 20/11/2012)
volume of water in each segment, the process [4]http://www.physics.smu.edu./~scalise/mec
can be repeated appropriately to find all the hmanual/archimedes/lab.html (accessed
values of Δti, and finally sum them to find the 16/10/2012)
total time for the ship to fill, and so sink: [5]http://mathworld.wolfram.com/SphericalC
𝑁 ap.html (accessed 16/10/2012)
𝑇 = � ∆𝑡𝑖 , (8) [6]The Physics of Fluids and Plasmas an
1 Introduction for Astrophysicists, Choudhuri
where N segments are used in total. A.R., Cambridge University Press 1998, (Page
66).
Example of Calculation using the Algorithm [7]http://hyperphysics.phy-
[8] A ship of mass mS0 = 500 imperial tons, astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pber.html#bcal (accessed
rs = 6.5m (approximately) and water velocity 16/10/2012)
ve1 = 5ms-1 (an assumed measured value of [8] http://www.melfisher.org/1622.htm
original water flow into the perforation site) (accessed 16/10/2012)
with N = 5, and using the average velocity into
and out of a segment in equation (7) gives T =
25 minutes (approximately).