Pn Haziah bt Awang Lah, Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah.

2007

3.5 ARCHIMEDES’ PRINCIPLE

Why I can
Why does an iron nail sink
float and
in water but a ship floats.
feel lighter

Simple activity to show the presence of buoyant force

1. Push the ballon in water and release. What happens?

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2. Drop a stone and a wood in a water. Observe and compare the position for a stone and a
wood. Explain.

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3. Drop an ice into the water and observe the movement of the ice.

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4.

Sea water Dead sea

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TEACHER’S SIGNATURE : …………………………
 Pn Haziah bt Awang Lah, Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah. 2007

4. Determine the actual weight of plasticine and the apparent weight of the plasticine in
water.
Actual weight = ………………………

Apparent weight = ………………….

(The weight of plasticine in water)

Loss in weight = …………………….

Weight of = buoyant force

Displaced water

F = ρgV
F W
F = buoyant force (N)
ρ = density (kgm-3 )
g = 10 ms-2 Floating Buoyant force = weight of object
V = volume (m3)

Applications of Archimedes’ Principle

1. Submarine

2. Hot air balloon

3. Hydrometer

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TEACHER’S SIGNATURE : …………………………
 Pn Haziah bt Awang Lah, Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah. 2007

Solving Problems

1. Afiq finds that the wooden block in the sea and in the river are at different levels although the
block has the same mass. ( Density of sea water = 1025 kgm-3, river water = 1000 kgm-3)
Figure 3.5(a) and figure 3.5(b) shows the situation.

In the river
In the sea

Figure 3.5(a) Figure 3.5 (b)

(a) Using figures 3.5(a) and 3.5(b), compare the levels of the wooden block and volumes of
water displaced of the wooden block.

Relating the mass of the boat with its load, the volume of water displaced and the density
of the water and deduce a relevant physics concept.
[5m]
(b) Name the physics principle that is explained the above situation.
[1m]
(c) A submarine can sail on the sea surface and under the sea.
[3m]
(d) Figures 3.5(c) and 3.5(d) below illustrate the working principle of a hydrometer. The
depth to which the test tube sinks depends on its surrounding liquid.

Draw a diagram that shows the design of your hydrometer and in your explanation,
emphasis the following aspects:
(i) the stability of the hydrometer
(ii) the sensitivity of the hydrometer
(iii) the ability to measure a wide range of densities of liquids
(iv) the calibration of the hydrometer.

[10m]

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