Archimedes Principal

Purpose
An application of the Archimedes Principal
to determine the density of rocks
Materials
Triple beam balance, spring balance, rock,
and a container of water

Procedure
Once Elizabeth and I had set up the lab and had all the materials necessary at hand, we
proceeded to find the density of the rock we selected. (We selected rock P-30) We weighed the
rock on a triple beam balance, and found that the rock weighed 232.9g. After that we weighed
the rock with the spring scale in mid-air, and found it weighed 252g. Then, we weighed the rock
submerged in water with a spring balance and found that the rock weighed 150g. In order to find
the amount of water displaced we subtract the weight of the rock in mid-air by the weight of the
rock submerged in water, which is:
252g-150g = 102g;
Archimedes Principal states, an immersed body is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of
the fluid it displaces (pg. 124). That being stated, we can confidently state that the amount of
water displaced is equal to the buoyant force. the buoyant force is equal to 102g. The next thing
Elizabeth and I did was find the density of the rock. The density is equal to the mass divided by
the volume, so we divided the mass of the rock by the buoyant force:
mass of rock = 232.9g = 2.156
water displaced 102g
therefore, the density of the rock is equal to 2.156
Conclusions
I realized that things float because there is a buoyant force pushing it up. The amount of
buoyant force is determined by the density of an object. I also learned that, according to
Archimedes the amount of water displaced is equal to the buoyant force.
Questions:
1. Sea water has a slightly higher density than fresh water. Would you be able to float better in
sea water than in fresh water? Explain the physical reason.
It is much easier to float in salt water that has a higher density than fresh water, because I
will have a lower density than the salt water I displace, making me float better.
2. A cup is almost full with water and floating ice. If all the ice were to melt, how would the
water level change? Explain?
Because water will have the same volume as a liquid and a solid, the water level will
remain the same, whether or not the ice that was inside of the cup melts.
3. Geologist tell us that large mountains are floating in a dense semifluid material, called the
asthensphere. Explain why high mountains have deep roots.

Mountains are floating in semifluid, since they have a lower density than the semifluid
material. High mountains have deep roots because the mass of the rock is heavier, making it have
less buoyant force pushing it up.