Archimedes’ principle and

floating
• Greek scientist
• First person to realize that there is an upward
force on an object placed in a liquid which
comes from the liquid itself and makes the
object appear to lose weight or float
Investigating Archimedes’ principle
• Upward force; up
thrust; buoyant force
• Measuring the upward
force= weight in air-
weight in water
• Read weight of the
object using a spring
scale
• Immerse object in
water-read scale again
• Note that the object
appears to have become
lighter
• Apparent weight (weight
in water) due to the
upward force of the
water
• Upward force= weight of water displaced by
the object
• Submerge object into large container, collect
displaced water
• Weigh the collected water
 Sinking and floating
W weight of the object Law of flotation states “ a floating object
displaces its own weight of the fluid in
U upthrust of the fluid which it floats”
Notes:
• 1cm3 of water has a mass of 1g
• Weight= mass x gravity
• The density of liquid mercury is 14 x 103 kg m-3.
Calculate the liquid pressure 0.76 m below the
surface of mercury
p= hpg= 0.76 x 14 x 103 x 9.8
p= 1.04 x 105 Pa
 Example
• A force of 150N is being applied over an area
measuring 0.5m^2. Calculate the pressure on
the object ensuring you give the correct units.
• A woman is applying 300N/m^2 of pressure
onto a door with her hand. Her hand has
area 0.02 m^2. Work out the force being
applied.
• Pressure of 150 N/m^2 is experienced when a
force of 2 kN is applied. Calculate the area
over which the force is applied to obtain the
pressure stated.
• A stone pillar has a mass of 3.0 tonnes. If the
area of its base is 0.3m^2, calculate the
pressure under the pillar, give your answer in
pascals