Here's a breakdown:
* Buoyant force: An upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an object immersed in it.
* Fluid: Any substance that can flow, such as liquids and gases.
* Displaced fluid: The amount of fluid that is pushed aside by the object when it is submerged.
* Weight: The force of gravity acting on an object's mass.
Formula:
Buoyant force (F_b) = Density of fluid (ρ) × Volume of displaced fluid (V) × Acceleration due to gravity (g)
Where:
* F_b is the buoyant force in Newtons (N)
* ρ is the density of the fluid in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³)
* V is the volume of the displaced fluid in cubic meters (m³)
* g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²)
Example:
Imagine a block of wood with a volume of 0.1 m³ submerged in water. The density of water is approximately 1000 kg/m³.
* The volume of the displaced fluid is equal to the volume of the block, which is 0.1 m³.
* Using the formula, the buoyant force on the block is:
F_b = 1000 kg/m³ × 0.1 m³ × 9.8 m/s² = 980 N.
Key points:
* The buoyant force acts upward, opposing gravity.
* The greater the volume of fluid displaced, the greater the buoyant force.
* If the buoyant force is greater than the weight of the object, the object will float. If the weight is greater, the object will sink.
* The buoyant force is independent of the object's shape.
