An elephant of mass 2800kg has feet of average area of 200 cm2. A vulture of mass 12 kg walks beside the elephant on a muddy area, the average area of the feet of the vulture is 2.0 cm2. Which one is likely to sink? Explain your answer showing any necessary calculations.

Explanation:

The formula we are going to use is

Pressure = F/A

Elephant:

First, we need to convert weight into newtons.

1kg=9.8 newtons, so 2800kg × newtons = 27440newtons

For 4 feet= 200×4= 800cm^2

Convert the area to meter squared using the following:

1 centimeter squared = 0.0001 meters squared

800cm^2×0.0001= 0.08m^2

Pressure=F/A

Pressure= 27440/0.08

The pressure exerted on the ground by the elephant is 343000 Pascals.

Vulture:

12kg×9.8=117.6newtons

for 2 feet= 2.0×2=4cm^2

4×0.0001=0.0004m^2

117.6/0.0004= 294000 Pascals

To compare the pressure, just do a ratio of the elephant's pressure to vulture's pressure.

343000/294000≈ 1.17

So the pressure is about 1 times bigger.

Keep in mind that the elephant has 4 feet, which help to increase the area which in turn decrease the pressure. 

in simple terms, the principle states that the buoyancy force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object, or the density of the fluid multiplied by the submerged volume times the gravitational acceleration, g. this is also known as upthrust.