Archimedes’ Principle
Physics 101 Lab Coordinator
Why does some things float and others do not?
Do objects that sink get any support at all from the fluid?
Pressure increases with depth in a fluid
This means
The upward force on the bottom of an object in a fluid is greater than
the downward force on the top of the object
Imagine a ball is suspended beneath the water surface (not floating or sinking)
Because this ball is in equilibrium, there must be an upward force (F B) that balances the downward
gravitational force (Fg) on the ball .
This upward force is the buoyant force, and its magnitude is equal to the weight of the ball.
The buoyant force is the resultant force due to all forces applied by the fluid surrounding the ball.
1. If the buoyant force is greater than the object’s weight, the object will rise to the surface and
float.
2. If the buoyant force is less than the object’s weight, the object will sink.
3. If the buoyant force equals the object’s weight, the object will remain suspended at that depth.
* The buoyant force is always present whether the object floats, sinks, or is suspended in a
fluid*
The buoyant force equal to difference between upward force on the bottom of the object (F1)
and the downward force on the top of the object (F2).
FB = F2 – F1
Statement (objective) of Archimedes’ principle:
The buoyant force must be equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.
So the weight of the displaced fluid is just the weight of the object, and:
FB = weight of the object x gravity = mass x gravity = m x g
and because the mass of the displaced fluid is equal to its volume multiplied by its density, then
FB = ρ V g
Symbol Definition Symbol Definition
FB Buoyant force ρ Density of fluid
F2 Force upward g Gravity (9.8 m/s2)
F1 Force downward V Volume of fluid displaced
(equal to object volume)
Experiment equipment / Apparatus
Fig. A
Method / How to do the experiment?
1. Set up the stand and suspend the dynamometer from the hook
(see Fig. A).
2. Suspend the cylinder from the dynamometer.
3. Read and write down the weight (Wair).
4. Fill the vessel with overflow to such an extent with water that it
just stops to overflow and place it under the cylinder.
5. Place the beaker next to the vessel with overflow so that the
overflowing water can be collected.
6. Lower the dynamometer until the cylinder is completely
immersed in the water. Collect the overflowing water in the
beaker.
7. Read the new value on the dynamometer (Wliquid). The difference between the two
readings is the buoyant force on the cylinder.
8. Pour the water from the beaker into the bucket carefully.
9. Take the cylinder down the dynamometer then suspend the bucket from the
dynamometer and determine the weight (Wbucket+water).
10. Empty the bucket and suspend it from the dynamometer to find its weight ( Wbucket).
11. Determine the weight of the displaced water.
Home work
1. A block of wood with length = 4.5 m, width = 2.5 m and height = 1.4 m. The density of water is 1000 Kg/m 3
. If the block is placed in the water, what is the buoyant force?
(Acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 N/Kg).
2. A standard basketball (mass = 624 grams; 24.3 cm in diameter) is held fully under water. Calculate the
buoyant force and weight.
When released, does the ball sink to the bottom or float to the surface?
3. Water ice has a density of 0.91 g/cm³, so it will float in liquid water. Imagine you have a cube of ice, 10 cm
on a side. (a) What is the cube's weight? (b) What volume of liquid water must be displaced in order to support
the floating cube?
