[amp_mcq option1=”the metal piece will simply float over the mercury” option2=”the metal piece will be immersed in mercury by half” option3=”whole of the metal piece will be immersed with its top surface just at mercury level” option4=”metal piece will sink to the bottom” correct=”option4″]
The correct answer is D.
Specific gravity is a dimensionless number that compares the density of a substance to the density of a standard substance. The standard substance for specific gravity is water, which has a specific gravity of 1.0.
A piece of metal with a specific gravity of 13.6 is more dense than mercury, which has a specific gravity of 13.6. Therefore, the metal piece will sink to the bottom of the mercury.
Option A is incorrect because the metal piece will not float over the mercury. The metal piece is more dense than the mercury, so it will sink.
Option B is incorrect because the metal piece will not be immersed in mercury by half. The metal piece will sink to the bottom of the mercury.
Option C is incorrect because the metal piece will not be immersed with its top surface just at mercury level. The metal piece will sink to the bottom of the mercury.