Is this the right route? I'm stuck after this point, and quite frankly I'm starting to lose sight of what I'm solving for.--Jmason 11:43, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
I'm looking at this more, and I'm starting to wonder whether it is necessary to solve the equation with respect to time. There really only seems to be two conditions: one, that the extension of the plunger z = 5, and two, that the height of the water h <= 2. I'm not sure whether my current equations can satisfy that; I'm going to try it again. Can anyone suggest something simpler for finding the area of the water against the plunger?--Jmason 12:26, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
Never mind. I solved it. I updated it and will leave for anyone else who was thrown by the data provided.--Jmason 12:48, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
Yeah, time is not a factor in this problem. I wondered the same thing at first. After I thought about it a while though, all that mattered was how far would the spring be compressed when the tank was full to the brim and just about to spill over.Jhunsber
