What is Buoyant Force?
Buoyant force can be defined as an upward force exerted on an object that is completely or partially submerged in liquid. The unit of the buoyant force is Newton. Buoyancy force depends upon two factors:
- Amount (Volume) of liquid displaced by the object
- The density of the object.
In the first example, the iron nail has less volume and displaces a very less amount of water, so there is less buoyant force (upward force), and therefore sinks. Whereas ships have more volume, displace more water, and therefore have greater buoyant force (upward force) by water, and it floats. When talking in terms of relative density, if the relative density is less than 1, the object floats in water, and if the relative density is more than 1, the object sinks.
In the second example, the iron ball has more density and, therefore, greater gravitational force (downward force) than the buoyant force applied by the liquid. Hence it sinks. Whereas plastic ball is hollow and very dense, so smaller gravitational force (downward force) than the buoyant force (upward force) applied by liquid, and it floats. Boats, submarines, lifeboats, life jackets, and swimming work on the principle of 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
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