what direction does buoyancy act in? all directions, up? etc.

Buoyancy pushes an object upward.

Thankies Bob!!

Buoyancy is a force that acts on an object submerged or floating in a fluid, such as water or air. It is an upward force that opposes the force of gravity. Therefore, buoyancy always acts in the opposite direction of gravity.

To understand why buoyancy acts in this way, we need to consider the concept of fluid pressure. When an object is submerged in a fluid, the pressure exerted by the fluid is greater at deeper levels than at shallower levels. This pressure difference creates an upward force on the object, known as buoyancy.

The magnitude of the buoyant force depends on two factors: the density of the fluid and the volume of the object submerged. According to Archimedes' principle, the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. If the weight of the fluid displaced is greater than the weight of the object, then the object will experience a net upward force and float.

Therefore, regardless of the shape or orientation of the object, the buoyant force always acts in the direction opposite to gravity - upward. This is why objects float or experience a lighter weight when submerged in a fluid.