Here's why:

* Buoyant force is the upward force exerted by a fluid (liquid or gas) on an object submerged in it. It's directly related to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

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

Key Differences:

* Origin: Buoyant force arises from fluid pressure, while weight arises from gravity.

* Direction: Buoyant force acts upwards, while weight acts downwards.

* Dependence: Buoyant force depends on the volume of fluid displaced, while weight depends on the object's mass.

Example: A boat floats because the buoyant force acting on it is equal to its weight. However, the buoyant force and weight are separate forces acting in opposite directions.