When an object is immersed in a fluid describe the buoyant force?
The buoyant force is the resultant of the pressure (x area) that is applied to all submerged portion of the immersed object.
The sum is always straight up and equals the weight of the displaced fluid.
When an object is immersed in a fluid, it experiences a buoyant force. The buoyant force is the upward force exerted by a fluid on an object. It is caused by the pressure difference between the bottom and top of the object immersed in the fluid.
To understand and calculate the buoyant force, we need to know two factors:
1. Density: Density is the amount of mass per unit volume of a substance. It is typically denoted by the symbol "ρ" (rho). The density of the fluid and the object immersed in it are essential in determining the buoyant force.
2. Archimedes' Principle: Archimedes' Principle states that the buoyant force exerted on an object immersed in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
To calculate the buoyant force, you can follow these steps:
1. Determine the density of the fluid (ρf) in which the object is immersed. It is usually given in the problem statement or can be looked up.
2. Determine the density of the object (ρo). This is also given in the problem or can be found by dividing its mass by its volume.
3. Calculate the volume of the fluid displaced by the object. This can be determined by multiplying the cross-sectional area of the object (A) by its depth/submerged height (h).
4. Calculate the weight of the fluid displaced using the formula: weight = mass × gravity, where mass = density × volume and gravity ≈ 9.8 m/s².
5. The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Therefore, the buoyant force exerted on the object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object, as determined in the previous step.
Note that the buoyant force always acts in the upward direction, opposing the force of gravity on the object. This is what causes objects to float or feel lighter when immersed in a fluid.