BUOYANCY

CE 3250
Joe Eckhardt, Mike Firestone,
Christos Melistas, Meghan Vohs

What is Buoyancy?

In simple terms, buoyancy is the ability of

an object to float.
Whether or not a given object will float is
determined by the buoyant force on the
object.
This force is caused by the difference
between the pressure at the top of the
object, which pushes it downward and the
pressure at the bottom of the object which
pushes it upward. Because the pressure at
the bottom of the object is always greater
than the pressure at the top, every
submerged object feels an upward
buoyant force.
The magnitude of this buoyant force is
equal to the weight of the fluid that is
displaced by the submerged object.

The weight of the water that is displaced by this

block of wood is equal to the buoyant force
acting on the block. (excerpt from
http://www.pbs.org)

What is Buoyancy? (cont.)

The difference between the

buoyant force acting up on
the object and the force due
to gravity acting downward
on the object will determine
whether or not the object will
float or sink.
If the buoyant force is greater
than the gravitational force,
the object will float, but if the
opposite is true, the object
will sink.

Buoyancy kept the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald afloat in

the Great Lakes until water filled its hull causing the
ships weight to exceed the buoyant force acting
upward on it. The rest is history.

How to Calculate Buoyancy

The buoyant force (FB) is
equal to the weight of fluid
the object displaces.
If an object is submerged it
displaces its total volume of
fluid.
If it is partially submerged it
displaces the volume of fluid
equal to its submerged
volume.
The weight of the fluid it
displaces is the volume of
fluid multiplied by the fluids
specific weight.

How to Calculate Buoyancy

Totally Submerged Object in Water

Objects Volume = 1ft3

Specific Weight of Water (Water) = 62.4lb/ft3
FB = 1ft3 x 62.4lb/ft3 = 62.4lb

How to Calculate Buoyancy

Object 50% Submerged in Water

Objects Volume = 1ft3

Submerged volume = 0.5ft3

Specific Weight of Water (Water) = 62.4lb/ft3

FB = 0.5ft3 x 62.4lb/ft3 = 31.2lb

Understanding Buoyancy
Q: An inverted spherical shell of diameter, d = 1m is used to
cover a tank filled with water. What is the minimum
weight the shell must be to hold itself in place?

Understanding Buoyancy (cont.)

A: Since only half the sphere is covering the tank, we only

need to account for half the volume. So, V = 4/3 r3.

Since only half the volume is to be accounted for, the
volume that is to be used is V = 4/6 r3. So, the volume of
the sphere will be 4/6 *(.5m)3 = .262m3. Then, the forces
in the y-direction must be summed and set equal to zero.
Our equation will be FB W = 0. FB = Specific weight of
water (W) * volume of sphere. So, our equation to solve
for W will be (9,806 N/m3)*(.262m3) W = 0. Solving for
W, the minimum weight the shell must be to hold itself in
place is 2,569.17N.

Who Needs Buoyancy?

Everyone needs
buoyancy!
If you swim, boat,
scuba dive, or float;
you need buoyancy!!!

Buoyancy and Swimming

Buoyancy is why most people
float. Your body displaces
water. When the weight of the
water you displace is more than
your weight you float.
Because of buoyancy you
weigh very little in water.
You can put most of your
energy into movement because
you need very little to carry
yourself