Buoyancy
Archimedes Principle on Bouyancy
“ A body submerged (partially or completely) in a fluid at rest is
buoyed up by a forced equal to the weight of the displaced fluid”
BF = ϒ Vd
Where: BF = buoyant force (N)
Vd = volume of the displaced fluid (m³)
ϒ = specific weight of fluid (N/m³)
Note:
The buoyant force BF, the weight of the displaced fluid, is also called the
displacement of the body or static lift and acts through the centroid of
the displaced fluid, known as the center of buoyancy.
If the gravity force of the body is greater than the static lift (buoyant
force), the body sinks in the fluid unless external forces act upon the
body. The difference between the actual weight ( weight in air) of the
body, WB, and the buoyant force, Fb, is called as the apparent weight of
the body, WB’, or
WB’ = WB - BF
SAMPLE
PROBLEM
1. If a metal sphere 60 cm in diameter weighs 11,120 N in
air, what would be its weight when submerged in a) water?
b) mercury?
Vol. of sphere
Solution: a) In Water
3
4π 0.3
BF = ϒ Vd = 9.81 [ ] = 1.10950 kN
3
BF = 1,109.50 N
BF = Wair – Wwater
1,109.50 = 11,120 - Wwater
Wwater = 11,120 – 1,109.50 = 10, 010.50 N
b) In Mercury
3
4π 0.3
BF = ϒ Vd = 9.81 (13.6) [ 3
] = 15.089 kN
BF = 15,089 N > Wair = 11,120 N
BF = Wair – Wmercury
15,089 = 11,120 - Wmercury
Wmercury = 11,120 – 15,089 = - 3,969 N Since the sphere will floats in mercury,
therefore no answer.
2. An irregularly shaped crown weighed 31.4N in air
and then 28.9N in water. Determined if the crown is
made of pure gold. The density of gold is given to be
19300 kg/m3.
Solution: The mass of the crown is:
Wair 31.4 N
W Mg N ; M 3.20 kg
g 2
9.81 m / s
BF Wair Wwater 31 .4 28 .9 2.50 N
BF V water g V
BF 2.50
V 2.548 x10 4 m 3
water g (1000 kg 3 ) (9.81 m )
m s2
M 3.20 kg kg
4 3
12559 3
V 2.548 x10 m m
The density of the crown is less than the density of gold.
Therefore, the crown is not made of pure gold.
3. Determine the specific volume in m3/Kg of an object that
weighs 4N in water and 5N in alcohol of [Link]. 0.80.
1
Soln : Vs
In water: Subst. eq.1 in eq.2
BF Wair Wwater W 4 7848V 9810V 4 5
V W 4 1962V 1
V 0.00051 m 3
9810V W 4
Subst. V in eq. 1
W 9810V 4 1
Wobj 9810(0.00051) 4
In Alcohol:
Wobj 9.0031N
BF W 5
V W 5
W
9.0031
17,653 N 3
V 0.00051 m
9810(0.80)V W 5
17,653
1,799.50 kg 3
7848V W 5 2 g 9.81 m
1 1 3
Vs 0.00056m
1,799.50 kg