Buoyancy

Any time an object is immersed in a fluid, it will

experience an upward force (buoyant force) from the
fluid. (you feel lighter in a swimming pool.)
The relationship is → B = ρVg
Where:
B = buoyant force (N)

ρ = density of the fluid (kg/m3)

V = volume of displaced fluid (m3)

g = 9.8 m/s2
 Archimedes’ Principle
the volume of the displaced fluid is
equal to the volume of the submerged
portion of the displacing object.

Problem solving applications

Use B as you would any other force in ΣF
calculations. (B always is directed up)
 Examples
Calculate the weight of a rock of mass 32 kg
and density 2800 kg/m3 when fully
submerged in water of density 1000 kg/m3 ?
GIVEN

mrock = 32 kg (Fg = 313.6 N)

ρrock = 2800 kg/m3
g = 9.8 m/s2
ρfluid = 1000 kg/m3
 First the volume of the rock can be determined.

ρ=m/V therefore V = m/ρ

V = (32 kg)  ( 2800 kg/m3) = 1.14 x 10-2 m3

this is also the volume of the displaced

fluid (since the rock is fully submerged)

the buoyant force calculated as follows:

B = ρVg therefore B = (1000) ( 1.14 x 10-2) (9.8)

B = 112 N
The weight of the rock in the water is
therefore 112 N less than it is in air or 201.6 N
 A helium balloon of volume 12 x 10-3 m3 has a total
mass of 12 grams. Calculate the initial acceleration of
the balloon when released in air (density = 1.3 kg/m3).

GIVEN
mballoon = 0.012 kg (Fg = 0.1176 N)

Vballoon = 12 x 10-3 m3 since the balloon is fully submerged in air, this is

also the volume of the displaced air
g = 9.8 m/s2

ρfluid = 1.3 kg/m3 in this case the fluid the balloon is fully submerged
in is air

the buoyant force calculated as follows:

B = ρVg therefore B = (1.3) ( 12 x 10-3) (9.8)

B = 0.153 N
 A free body diagram
for the balloon is
shown to the right.

Σ F = ma B Fg
B - Fg = ma
Σ F = B - Fg a

0.153 - 0.1176 = .012 (a)

a = 2.95 m/s2
A wooden raft of density 600 kg/m3 is placed in
sea water ( = 1030 kg/m3). If the mass of the
raft is 300 kg, what additional mass can it
hold and remain afloat?
First the volume of the raft can be determined.

ρ=m/V therefore V = m/ρ

V = (300 kg)  ( 600 kg/m3) = 0.50 m3

this is also the volume of the displaced
fluid (since the raft can remain afloat when fully
submerged)
 the buoyant force calculated as follows:

B = ρVg therefore B = (1030) ( 0.5) (9.8)

B = 5047 N

The weight the raft itself = (300)(9.8) = 2940 N

The additional weight the fully submerged raft can

hold is therefore 5047 – 2940 = 2107N

The additional mass is 2107 ÷ 9.8 = 215 kg

A gold ( = 19,300 kg/m3) bar is suspected to have a hollow
center. It has a mass of 38.25 g in air and an apparent mass of
36.22 g in water. How large is the hole in the center?

First the volume of the bar, if it were solid gold, can be

determined.

ρ=m/V therefore V = m/ρ

V = (0.03825 kg)  ( 19,300 kg/m3) = 1.98 x 10-6 m3

The buoyant force can be determined as the difference in

weight of the bar in air and in water.
B = (0.03825)(9.8) – ( .03622)(9.8) = 0.0199 N

B = ρVg therefore 0.02 = (1000) (V) (9.8)

V= 2.03 x 10-6 m3
The calculated volume is bigger than the volume of a
solid gold bar by
2.03 x 10-6 m3 – 1.98 x 10-6 m3

Therefore the hole is 5 x 10-8 m3