PHYSICS – BUOYANCY IN WATER
object but of the fluid.
Swimming under Pressure
 Increase in pressure is a result of gravity – there
is more water being pulled down above you.
 P = Fg (weight of the column of water above you)
A (column’s cross-sectional area)
 Fg = m * g; the weight is equal to mass
multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity.
 Mass is derived from the density equation, so
mass is equal to density * volume.
 V = Ah; volume is area of the base times its
height.
Pressure of the Fluid on the Body
P = ρgh
Pressure is dependent on the density of the fluid, height of the
column, and the acceleration due to gravity.
Buoyancy
 An upward force formed by an increase in
pressure and depth.
 V = lA; volume is length of object times its area.
FTOP = PTOPA = ρhgA
FBOTTOM = PBOTTOMA = ρ(l+h)gA
 The equations basically explain that the pressure
on the top of the object is caused by the density,
height, acceleration due to gravity and surface
area, while at its bottom, length is added to
height – making the upward force larger and
creating a net force.
 On four vertical sides, the forces are equal – the
horizontal net force is non-existent.
 The vertical net force is the buoyant force.
FBUOYANT = FBOTTOM – FTOP
= ρ(l+h)gA – ρhgA
= ρlgA or ρVg
 The net upward force is proportional to the
volume of the box; this volume equals the
volume displaced.
Buoyant Force
FBUOYANT = ρFLUIDgV
The BF of an object is equal to the weight of the fluid
displaced by it, which is equal to the density of the fluid in
which it is immersed multiplied by the object’s volume
and free-fall acceleration.
Archimedes’ Principle
 An object immersed in a fluid has an upward
force on it that is equal to the weight of the fluid
displaced by the object.
 Force does not depend on the weight of the
 Law of Impenetrability
Sink or Float?
 Less density of water, less buoyant force.
 Density of water is usually 1000 kg/m3 or 1 kg/L
 When an object is floating
- It becomes weightless in water because the
buoyant force is extremely great and
continues to push it up.
- Wt. in water = BF – Wt. in Air
 When an object is of great density and sinks
- There is an apparent loss of weight that is
equal to the buoyant force acting on the
object.
- The BF is also equal to the weight of
displaced water.
 Any object, whether less dense or denser,
apparently loses its weight in water.
 BF = VolH2O/ WeightH2O = Vol imm. solid/ Weight
imm. solid
 Having the Buoyant force be greater than or
almost equal to the weight of the solid will make
it float.
- If the weight is greater than the BF, then it
will sink.
 Volume is not numerically equal to BF per se,
but is principally equal; it generates BF.
Specific Gravity
SG = substance/H2O
A ratio comparing the weight, density, volume of a
substance to that of water’s.
 Can also compare to the apparent loss of weight.
 SG = W1 / W1 – W2 (See notes.)
Hydrometer
 Determines specific gravity; has lead pellets at the
bottom, making it denser than water.
 Adding more water (volume) and more VF will push
it up and make it float.
 Measures direct reading on density (lower meniscus)
 Pycnometer – special bottle that has a certain volume.
It can be used to determine the heaviness or weight of
a liquid.