Here's a breakdown:

* Buoyant force: This is the upward force exerted by a fluid on an object submerged in it. It's directly related to the volume of fluid displaced by the object.

* Weight: This is the force of gravity acting on the object's mass.

In simpler terms:

* If the object is denser than the fluid: It will sink because its weight (due to its density) is greater than the buoyant force.

* If the object is less dense than the fluid: It will float because the buoyant force is greater than its weight.

* If the object has the same density as the fluid: It will be neutrally buoyant, meaning it will neither sink nor float.

Example: A wooden block will float in water because wood is less dense than water. The buoyant force acting on the block is greater than the block's weight, so it floats.