TUTORIAL 1

BUOYANCY
1/17/17 Lecture Instructor: Dr. David Smith
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Discussion Questions
¨ A cubical block is observed to float in a beaker of water. The block
is then held hear the center of the beaker as shown and released.
1. Describe the motion of the block after it is released.

2. Draw an extended free-body diagram for the block right after it is

released.
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Quiz: 1
¨ Rank the vertical forces on your free-body diagram by magnitude. Discuss
your reasoning with your neighbor.
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Discussion Questions
3. Draw an arrow to represent the vector sum of the forces exerted
on the block by the surrounding water. Discuss your reasoning
with your neighbor.

4. Is this vector sum the net force on the block? Explain.

5. Is the magnitude of the sum of the forces exerted on the block greater than, less than,
or equal to the weight of the block? Explain
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Quiz 2
¨ Which of the following choices best represents your answers
to questions 3, 4 and 5?
A. (3) Upward (4) Yes (5) Less than
B. (3) Upward (4) No (5) Less than
C. (3) Downward (4) No (5) Equal to
D. (3) Downward (4) No (5) Greater than
E. (3) Upward (4) No (5) Greater than
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Discussion Questions
¨ The experiment is repeated with a second block that has the same volume
as the original block. However, this block is observed to sink in water.
6. Draw an extended free-body
diagram for the block right
after it is released.

7. Compare the free-body diagram for the block that sinks to the one you
drew for the block that floats.

8. Which forces are the same in magnitude and which are different?
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Quiz: 3
¨ At the moment the two blocks are released, how does the
sum of the forces on the blocks by the water compare in
magnitude?
A. 𝐹$%& ()&%*,,-.)&/$0 1-.23 > 𝐹$%& ()&%*,5/$3/$0 1-.23
B. 𝐹$%& ()&%*,,-.)&/$0 1-.23 = 𝐹$%& ()&%*,5/$3/$0 1-.23
C. 𝐹$%& ()&%*,,-.)&/$0 1-.23 < 𝐹$%& ()&%*,5/$3/$0 1-.23
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Archimedes’ Principle
¨ The magnitude of the buoyant force exerted on an object by
a liquid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the
object.

𝐹: = 𝜌,-</= 𝑔𝑉=/5@-)2%=
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Discussion Questions
¨ A rectangular block, A, is released from rest at the center of a beaker of water. The
block accelerates upward.
9. Right after block A is released, is the buoyant force on it greater than, less than, or
equal to its weight? Discuss your reasoning with your neighbor.

10. When block A reaches the surface, it is observed to float at rest as

shown. In this final position, is the buoyant force on the block
greater than, less than, or equal to the weight of the block? Explain.
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Quiz: 4
¨ Which of the following choices best represents your
answers to questions 9 and 10?
A. (9) Equal to (10) Equal to
B. (9) Greater than (10) Greater than
C. (9) Greater than (10) Less than
D. (9) Greater than (10) Equal to
E. (9) Less than (10) Equal to
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Discussion Questions
¨ A second block, B, of the same size and shape as A but slightly
greater mass is released from rest at the center of the beaker.
The final position of this block is shown at right.
11. How does the buoyant force on block B compare to the
buoyant on block A:
i. Right after they are released? Explain.

ii. At their final positions? Explain

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Quiz: 5
¨ Which of the following choices best represents
the answers to the questions 11(i) and 11(ii)?
A. (i) Equal to (ii) Equal to
B. (i) Equal to (ii) Greater than
C. (i) Equal to (ii) Less than
D. (i) Less than (ii) Greater than
E. (i) Less than (ii) Less than
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Quiz: 6
¨ A third block, C, of the same size and shape
as A and B but with greater mass than block B
is released from rest at the center of the
beaker. Predict the final position of block C
in the beaker.
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Quiz: 7
¨ A solid sphere of mass m floats in a
beaker of water as shown. A second
sphere of the same material but of mass
2m is placed in a second beaker of water.
In the space provided, sketch the final
position of the second sphere.
¨ Discuss your reasoning with your neighbor.