Chapter 7 Section 2

 Explain the relationship between fluid

pressure and buoyant force

 Predict whether an object will float or sink in

a fluid

 Analyze the role of density in an object’s

ability to float

 Explain how the overall density of an object

can be changed
 The upward force that keeps an object
immersed in or floating on a liquid
 Water exerts pressure on all sides of an
object

 Horizontal pressures cancel each other out

 Top an bottom pressure affect net force

 The pressure at the bottom of the object is

greater than the pressure at the top;
upward net force (buoyant force)
 Archimedes Principle: the buoyant force on an
object in a fluid is an upward force equal to the
weight of the volume of fluid that the object
displaces

 Ex: An object that displaces 250mL of water,

the weight of that volume of displaced water =
2.5N, therefore the buoyant force is 2.5N

 (1L of water weighs 10N)

 Sinking:
◦ A rock 75N, displaces 5L of water
◦ Weight of displaced water 50N, object sinks

 Floating:
◦ A fish 12N, displaces 12N of water
◦ Fish weight = displaced water (suspended)

 Buoying Up:
◦ A duck partially submerged displaces 9N of water
◦ When buoyant force > object’s weight
 A force of 15N is required to lift an object
that is underwater. The object displaces 2L of
water.

 1L of water weighs 10N

 What is the weight of the object out of water?

 Equation:
◦ Force required to lift object in water =
weight of object out of water – buoyant
force

• 15N = weight of object out of water – 20N

• Weight of object out of water = 20N + 15N = 35N

 The rock sinks because it is more dense
than water
 The duck floats because it is less dense
 The fish is suspended because it is = to the

density of water

 Density of water= 1g/mL

 Density = mass/volume
 1mL = 1cm³
 More dense than air:
◦ Most substances are more dense than air
◦ Ice cube floats in water, not in air

 Less dense than air:

◦ Helium is less dense than air
 Density = mass ÷ volume

 Mass = density x volume

 Volume = mass ÷ density

 Page 188 in text: Practice Problems

 Changing shape:
◦ Steel ships are built with a hollow shape to increase the
volume, decreasing density

 Changing mass:
◦ Ballast tanks are built into submarines to increase mass
while maintaining volume, density increases
◦ Allows submarines to dive deep in the ocean

 Changing volume:
◦ Fish use swim bladders to increase volume, decreasing
density
 How can you determine the buoyant force
acting on an object?

 Who discovered how to determine buoyant

force?

 How can a scuba diver keep floating back to

the surface of the water?