Floating rocks

[neutrino_cannon]

I've done your homework for you. You will have to turn the pages yourself, and may even have to do some math. Or maybe not. The truth is out there.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=mercury+properties&btnG=Google+Search

Nice try, slacker.

What the heck is this, I set out a simple task for you to do for me, and you turn around and tell me to do it myself?

I had to go through like, seven pages, and I even had to do some math. Thanks a lot.



I tried that search before, of course.

Well, the average density of earth's consituent rocks is about 5. something or another grams/cc, and mercury is a little more than 13, so most rocks would float well indeed.

 

[phildonnia]

Here's an idea;

Could high wind in death valley result in a depressed "trail" behind a rock, making it appear as though it had moved when it hadn't?

 

[Rocky]

Here's an idea;

Could high wind in death valley result in a depressed "trail" behind a rock, making it appear as though it had moved when it hadn't?

Nope. Some times the trail is a perfect arc.

Often 2 rocks will do concentric arcs. When this happens there is always a large rock at the center of the arc, the pivot point for a sheet of ice.

 

[Oliver]

My first guess after seeing the tracks within the dried mud was:
Whenever the ground is muddy due to rain, the Wind is actually capable to move the stones on that sludgy ground.

On the other Hand - and if it's such a great mystery that has to be solved....
Why on God's green brown earth doesn't someone install an effing $10 Webcam and an anemometer to see when and how fast the stones move depending on weather conditions.

 

[Mashuna]

Yay, more zombie threads!

 

[Oliver]

Yay, more zombie threads!

So what? It's still a highly interesting and unsolved phenomena. I really would like to know the answer concerning the force/-s that move/-s those stupid stones around....

 

[elgarak]

Completely unrelated, random thought, but wouldn't most rocks float in mercury?

Google is failing me. I can find the density of the planet mercury (estimated 5.43 grams/cm^3), but not that of the element!

If anyone knows it, please post it. Oh, and do it in grams/cm^3, not kilograms/meters^3. it's summer, I don't want to think about math.


Really, I don't.

Googled "density of mercury". First link was to Wiki, "Mercury (element)". Had the density in there, as 13.534 grams per cubic cm.

Second link was to Wiki, "Mercury (planet).

Even if it's not given in the units you want, it's quite simple to convert units with google. No thinking needed.