a dense plastic toy mass of 1.2kg is floating just beneath the surface of a pond. What is the bouyant force?

I bet it is 1.2*9.8 Newtons. If it were less it would sink, if it were more, it would be on the surface.

To calculate the buoyant force acting on the plastic toy, you need to consider Archimedes' principle. According to this principle, the buoyant force (B) is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. Here's how to calculate it:

1. Determine the volume of the plastic toy:
- The density of water at room temperature is approximately 1000 kg/m³.
- The mass of the toy is given as 1.2 kg.
- Density is calculated as mass divided by volume (ρ = m/V).
- Rearranging the equation, we find the volume (V) is equal to the mass (m) divided by the density (ρ): V = m/ρ.
- So, V = 1.2 kg / 1000 kg/m³ = 0.0012 m³. Thus, the volume of the toy is 0.0012 cubic meters.

2. Calculate the buoyant force:
- The buoyant force equation is B = ρ x g x V, where ρ is the density of the fluid, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and V is the volume of the displaced fluid.
- The density of water is ρ = 1000 kg/m³.
- The acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s².
- Plugging in these values, we have B = 1000 kg/m³ x 9.8 m/s² x 0.0012 m³.
- Calculating this expression, the buoyant force is approximately 11.76 Newtons.

Therefore, the buoyant force acting on the plastic toy is approximately 11.76 Newtons.