ARCHIMEDES’ PRINCIPLE OF BUOYANCY

Archimedes’ principle states that the buoyant force on an object submerged in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces. This principle helps to explain why some objects float while others sink.

The formula for Archimedes’ principle is:

Buoyant force = weight of the fluid displaced = ρVg

where:

ρ is the density of the fluid

V is the volume of the fluid displaced

g is the acceleration due to gravity

In simpler terms, the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by an object. If the buoyant force is greater than the weight of the object, the object will float. If the buoyant force is less than the weight of the object, the object will sink.

For example, a block of wood will float in water because the buoyant force acting on it is equal to the weight of the water it displaces. The wood is less dense than water, so it weighs less than the water it displaces, allowing it to float.

On the other hand, a block of iron will sink in water because the buoyant force acting on it is less than the weight of the water it displaces. The iron is more dense than water, so it weighs more than the water it displaces, causing it to sink.