Buoyancy & Archimedes’ Principle

Buoyancy arises from the fact

that the pressure within a fluid
increases with depth and that the
forces exerted by the fluid on an
object are normal to the surface
of the object (Pascal’s Principle).

Since the fluid pressure is greater

at the bottom of an object, hence
a net upward force is exerted by
the fluid on a submerged object.
Statement of the Archimedes’ Principle

When an object is fully or partially submerged in a

fluid then

(a) an upward force (called the buoyant force) is

exerted on the object by the fluid

(b) the magnitude of the buoyant force is equal to the

weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
A floating helium balloon An iceberg
Derivation of the Archimedes’ Principle


F down d1
A d2
ρf ρo

F up
Sink, float or neutrally buoyant?

𝜌𝜌o > 𝜌𝜌f 𝜌𝜌o < 𝜌𝜌f 𝜌𝜌o = 𝜌𝜌f

Object sinks to Object floats Object is
the bottom partially submerged neutrally buoyant

𝐹𝐹B = 𝜌𝜌f 𝑉𝑉o 𝑔𝑔 𝐹𝐹B = 𝜌𝜌f 𝑉𝑉dis𝑝𝑝 𝑔𝑔 𝐹𝐹B = 𝜌𝜌f 𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜 𝑔𝑔

< Wobject = Wobject = Wobject
Floating Objects
Vo = volume of the object

Vsub = volume of the fluid displaced by the

object when placed in the fluid

𝐹𝐹B = 𝑤𝑤o
𝜌𝜌f Vsub 𝑔𝑔 = 𝜌𝜌o Vo 𝑔𝑔
𝜌𝜌f Vsub = 𝜌𝜌o Vo
Vsub 𝜌𝜌o
=
Vo 𝜌𝜌f
PROBLEM
What fraction of the volume of an iceberg is immersed in
the ocean?
𝜌𝜌ice = 920 kg/m3
𝜌𝜌ocean = 1030 kg/m3
PROBLEM

How large is that helium balloon? What is the volume of the

helium gas needed to lift a balloon, carrying two people in a basket,
if the total mass of the people, the basket and the material of the
balloon is 280.0 kg?

The density of helium gas is 0.18 kg/m3

The density of air is 1.3 kg/m3
PROBLEM
A rectangular block of solid wood weighs 50 N and is initially
floating in water. To completely immerse it motionless under the
water requires pushing it down with a force of 10 N (as shown).
(a) Draw a free-body diagram of the forces acting on the block
(b) What is the density of the wooden block?
10 N
CQ-1

Three identical objects are held at various positions

in a fluid as shown. Which of the following ordering
correctly describes the magnitude of the buoyant
forces (F) on these objects.
A
A. FA > FB > FC
B. FA < FB < FC B
C
C. FA = FB < FC
D. FA = FB = FC
CQ-2

Which of the following relationship is correct about the buoyant

forces (F) on the shown three spheres of equal volumes?

A. FCork = FAl = FLead

B. FCork < FAl < FLead
C. FCork > FAl > FLead
D. FCork = FAl < FLead
CQ-3
Four identical objects (same volumes) are placed in four containers
of water as shown. Which of the following relations correctly
describes the buoyant force (F ) acting on each object.

A
B
C
D

(A) 𝐹𝐹𝐴𝐴 < 𝐹𝐹𝐵𝐵 < 𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶 < 𝐹𝐹𝐷𝐷

(B) 𝐹𝐹𝐴𝐴 > 𝐹𝐹𝐵𝐵 > 𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶 > 𝐹𝐹𝐷𝐷

(C) 𝐹𝐹𝐴𝐴 = 𝐹𝐹𝐵𝐵 = 𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶 = 𝐹𝐹𝐷𝐷

(D) 𝐹𝐹𝐴𝐴 < 𝐹𝐹𝐵𝐵 < 𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶 = 𝐹𝐹𝐷𝐷

CQ-4

Four objects with identical volumes are submerged in a fluid

as shown. Which of the following statements is true about the
densities of these object?

A. ρ1 < ρ2 < ρ3 < ρ4 1

B. ρ1 = ρ2 = ρ3 = ρ4 2 3
4
C. ρ1 > ρ2 > ρ3 > ρ4
D. ρ1 < ρ2 = ρ3 < ρ4
PROBLEM
A submarine has a mass of 1000 kg and sits with 20% of its volume
above the surface of the sea. In order to sink, it takes on water. How
many kilograms of water does it have to take on board in order to be
neutrally buoyant, fully submerged in water?

A. 2,000 kg
B. 1,000 kg
C. 500 kg
D. 250 kg
E. 200 kg
PROBLEM
A metal sphere of mass 3 kg and volume 0.001 m3 is resting fully
immersed at the bottom of a swimming pool full of water. The
buoyant force exerted by the water on the sphere is:
[the density of water is 1000 kg/m3]

A. zero
B. about 10 N
C. cannot be calculated, we do not know the density of the sphere
D. about 20 N
E. about 30 N
PROBLEM
The average density of human body is about 1000.0 kg/m3. Estimate
the magnitude of the buoyant force exerted by the air on a person of
mass 70.0 kg. The density of air is 1.30 kg/m3.
What would be the reading on a scale when the person stands on it
(in air)? (g = 9.81 m/s2)
How much would the person weigh in vacuum?
Apparent Weight
The apparent weight of an object, that is fully or partially
immersed in a fluid, is the difference between its weight
outside that fluid and the buoyant force exerted on the
object by the fluid.

Wapparent Woutside-fluid − FB
=
= ρo Vo g − ρf Vo g
= ( ρo − ρf ) Vo g
FB ρf

Woutside-fluid
PROBLEM

A solid ball of unknown density weighs 15.0 N in air. When fully

immersed in water its apparent weight is determined to be 5.0 N.
What is the average density of this ball?
PROBLEM
A block of solid wood, fully immersed in water, has a volume of
10.0 cm3. The block is tied to the bottom of the container by a
string. The density of the wood is 600 kg/m3.

What is the tension in the string?

CQ-5a

A metal object of mass M with density four times that of water

is sitting fully-immersed at the bottom of a container that is
filled with water. The buoyant force exerted on the object by the
water is:

A. 4Mg
B. 2Mg
C. Mg
D. (3/4)Mg
E. (1/4)Mg
CQ-5b

A metal object of mass M with density four times that of water

is sitting fully-immersed at the bottom of a container that is
filled with water. The apparent weight of the object in the water
is:

A. Mg
B. (3/4)Mg
C. (1/2)Mg
D. (1/4)Mg
E. (1/8)Mg
CQ-6

An ice cube is floating in a glass of water that is filled

to the brim. When the ice cube melts, what would
happen to the water level?

A. The water level stays the same, right at the brim

B. The water level rises causing the water to spill
C. The water level goes down
CQ-7

Two identical cups are filled to the same level with water
with a plastic ball floating in one of the cups. Each cup is
placed on a scale and its weight is measured. Which of
the following statement about their weights is correct?
A. The cup with the plastic ball weighs more
B. The cup with the plastic ball weighs less
C. The two cups weigh the same
CQ-8

Two identical cups are filled to the same level with water. One
of the two cups has an iron ball resting at its bottom. Which of
the two cups weighs more?

A The cup without the iron ball

B The cup with the iron ball
C The two weigh the same
CQ-9

A container partially filled with water rests on a scale. If you

immerse your hand into the water, without touching the walls of
the container, what will happen to the reading on the scale?

A. Will not change hand

B. Will increase
C. Will decrease
D. I really do not know

?
CQ-10

A container partially filled with water and a piece of iron are

placed on a container. The iron is sitting outside the container
(as shown). The reading on the scale shows the combined
weight of the two. If the iron is now placed inside the water
what would happen to the reading on the scale?

A. Will not change

B. Will increase
C. Will decrease
?
D. I really do not know
CQ-11

An object is floating in a fluid with density ρ𝑓𝑓 with exactly half of

its volume submerged into the fluid. When placed in a fluid with
twice higher density, what fraction of the object’s volume will
be submerged?

𝑉𝑉
A. 𝑉𝑉
B. 𝑉𝑉/4 𝜌𝜌𝑓𝑓

C. 𝑉𝑉/2
D. 3𝑉𝑉/4
E. Not enough information is provided
CQ-12
Three identical beakers are each filled to the same amount of water with blocks
of equal volume placed in them. The blocks are at rest in their beakers. Block 1
is attached to the bottom of its beaker by a string and block 3 is hanging from
the ceiling by a string. In each of the cases there is a non-zero string tension
in the strings. Which of the following relations between the densities of the
block is correct?

(A) ρ=
1 ρ=
2 ρ3
(B) ρ=
1 ρ 2 < ρ3
(C) ρ1 < ρ 2 =
ρ3
(D) ρ1 < ρ 2 < ρ3
(E) ρ1 > ρ 2 > ρ3
PROBLEM
Determining the Densities of the Liquids:
A hydrometer consists of a spherical bulb with a cylindrical stem. The cross-
sectional are of the stem is 0.40 cm2. The total volume of the bulb and the stem
is 13.2 cm3.

When immersed in water, the hydrometer floats with 8.0 cm of the stem above
the water surface. In alcohol 1.0 cm of the stem is above the water surface.
Find the density of alcohol?

8.0 cm
1.0 cm

alcohol
water