Published by:
CGP EDU Academic Team
Published on: September 12, 2026
A piece of ice is floating in a beaker, filled to the brim with water (Fig.). Will the water overflow the rim of the beaker when the ice melts? What will happen if the beaker is filled not with water, but with (1) a liquid denser than water (2) a liquid less dense than water?

Text Solution
Verified by ExpertsThe correct answer is:
A
Step 1: Understanding the Effect of Ice Melting
When a piece of ice floats in water, it displaces a volume of water equal to the weight of the ice. This displacement is in accordance with Archimedes' principle.
Step 2: Ice Melting in Water
As the ice melts, it turns into water. Since the ice has already displaced the same volume of water as its weight, the volume of water produced by the melting ice will exactly occupy the volume that was displaced. Thus, the water level will remain unchanged and no water will overflow.
Step 3: Analysis for Denser Liquid
If the beaker is filled with a liquid denser than water, the floating ice will displace less volume of this denser liquid compared to the volume it displaces in water. When the ice melts, the denser liquid will not overflow because the smaller volume displaced will equal the volume of water produced from the melting ice. Therefore, no overflow occurs.
Step 4: Analysis for Less Dense Liquid
If the beaker is filled with a liquid that is less dense than water, the ice will displace more volume of this less dense liquid. When the ice melts, the volume of water produced from the melting ice will occupy less space than what was displaced initially. Hence, this scenario may cause overflow since the volume of liquid displaced becomes less than the volume of the ice plus the water formed from melting.
Therefore, the final answer based on each scenario is as follows:
1. Ice melts in water: No overflow
2. Ice melts in a denser liquid: No overflow
3. Ice melts in a less dense liquid: Overflow likely occurs.
When a piece of ice floats in water, it displaces a volume of water equal to the weight of the ice. This displacement is in accordance with Archimedes' principle.
Step 2: Ice Melting in Water
As the ice melts, it turns into water. Since the ice has already displaced the same volume of water as its weight, the volume of water produced by the melting ice will exactly occupy the volume that was displaced. Thus, the water level will remain unchanged and no water will overflow.
Step 3: Analysis for Denser Liquid
If the beaker is filled with a liquid denser than water, the floating ice will displace less volume of this denser liquid compared to the volume it displaces in water. When the ice melts, the denser liquid will not overflow because the smaller volume displaced will equal the volume of water produced from the melting ice. Therefore, no overflow occurs.
Step 4: Analysis for Less Dense Liquid
If the beaker is filled with a liquid that is less dense than water, the ice will displace more volume of this less dense liquid. When the ice melts, the volume of water produced from the melting ice will occupy less space than what was displaced initially. Hence, this scenario may cause overflow since the volume of liquid displaced becomes less than the volume of the ice plus the water formed from melting.
Therefore, the final answer based on each scenario is as follows:
1. Ice melts in water: No overflow
2. Ice melts in a denser liquid: No overflow
3. Ice melts in a less dense liquid: Overflow likely occurs.
Prepare Smarter with CGP Edu
Get practice questions, solutions, and test series in one place.
Write a Review
Share your experience with this question and solution.
Commentary
Send your comment, doubt, correction, or feedback to admin.
Similar Questions
Explore conceptually related problems
Two holes are made in the side of a cylindrical bucket, symmetrically placed on opposite sides. The…
An upturned test-tube is fixed rigidly over a vessel filled with water. How will the level of water…
A large number of liquid drops each of radius ' a ' are merged to form a single spherical drop of r…
In a capillary tube of radius R, a straight thin metal wire of radius is inserted symmetrically an…
A big water drop is formed by the combination of n small water drops of equal radii. The ratio of t…
When one end of the capillary is dipped in water, the height of water column is h. The upward force…