Archimedes’ Principle
The physical law of buoyancy was given by the Greek mathematician and inventor Archimedes. Archimedes’ principle states that the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces. In the image given below, fluid pressure opposes gravity, and actual gravitational forces decrease therefore given by:
Apparent weight = Weight of object (in the air) – Thrust force (buoyancy)
Buoyant Force
Buoyancy is a phenomenon due to the buoyant force that causes an object to float. When you put an object in a liquid, an upward force is exerted on the object by the liquid. This force is equal to the weight of the liquid that has been displaced. The amount of liquid that has been displaced depends upon the density and the volume of the object immersed in the liquid. Have you ever wondered why an iron nail sinks in water, but a ship made up of iron floats? And why does an iron ball sink but a plastic ball of the same size floats in water? These wonders happen due to the phenomenon known as Buoyancy. Let’s learn the buoyancy definition, buoyancy equation, and its examples in detail.
Table of Content
- What is Buoyant Force?
- What causes Buoyant Force?
- Archimedes’ Principle
- Formula for Archimedes’ Principle
- Derivation of the Formula
- Demonstration of Buoyant Force
- Why does an Object float or sink in the water?
- Types of Buoyancy
- Applications of Buoyancy
- Solved Examples on Buoyancy
Contact Us