Name: Larry Xue
Class: AP Physics II
Period: 2
Group #: 2
Lab # and Title: 3 – Archimedes’ Principle
Laboratory Report
Purpose
Determine the relationship between volume of the object submerged and the buoyancy force, and the
relationship between the weight of displaced water and the force of buoyancy.
Equipment Used
Spring Scale, Overflow Can, Triple Beam Balance, Mass, Small Beaker, Ruler, Water
Procedure
1) Record the mass of the Small Beaker.
2) Fill the Overflow Can with Water flowing into the Small Beaker. Empty Water from the Small
Beaker.
3) Measure the diameter of the Mass and attach to the Spring Scale. Record the Spring Scale reading.
4) Use a Ruler to dip the mass into the Overflow Can to a certain depth. Record the reading on the
Spring Scale.
5) Measure the mass of the Small Beaker with the displaced water inside.
6) Repeat with different depths.
Data
Initial mass of Small Beaker: 30.0g
Initial reading of Spring Scale: .76N
Diameter of Mass: .019m
Trial 1 (1cm):
Mass of Small Beaker with displaced water: 31.8g – Mass of displaced water: 1.8g
Reading of Spring Scale: .75N – Buoyancy Force: .01N
Trial 2 (2cm):
Mass of Small Beaker with displaced water: 35.5g – Mass of displaced water: 5.5g
Reading of Spring Scale: .72N – Buoyancy Force: .04N
Trial 3 (3cm):
Mass of Small Beaker with displaced water: 38.6g – Mass of displaced water: 8.6g
Reading of Spring Scale: .66N – Buoyancy Force: .1N
Trial 4 (4cm):
Mass of Small Beaker with displaced water: 42.2g – Mass of displaced water: 12.2g
Reading of Spring Scale: .63N – Buoyancy Force: .13N
Buoyancy Force vs. Volume of Mass
Volume of Buoyancy 0.14
Mass Force (N) y = 12359x - 0.0142
(m^3) 0.12
R² = 0.945
0.1
0 0
Buoyancy Force (N)
0.08
2.84*10^-6 .01
0.06
5.67*10^-6 .04
0.04
8.51*10^-6 .1 0.02
1.13*10^-5 .13 0
0 0.000002 0.000004 0.000006 0.000008 0.00001 0.000012
-0.02
-0.04
Volume of Mass (m^3)
Buoyancy Force vs. Mass of Displaced Water
Weight of Buoyancy 0.14
Displaced Force y = 1.1288x - 0.0074
Water (N) 0.12
(N) R² = 0.9702
0.1
0 0
Buoyancy Force (N)
0.08
.018 .01
0.06
.055 .04
0.04
.086 .1
0.02
.122 .13
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14
-0.02
Mass of Displaced Water (kg)
Conclusion
Our data supports the conclusion that the buoyant force is directly proportional in a linear relationship to both
the weight of fluid displaced and the volume of mass. Our R^2 value for Buoyant Force vs. Volume is .945 and
our R^2 value for Buoyant Force vs. Mass of Displaced Water is .9702. Experimental errors were most
probably made by human inaccuracies. The depth of the submerged mass may have been too great or too little,
as there was not an exact method of dipping the mass into the water. There were also discrepancies in our
reading of the spring scale. Adhesion and cohesion by the water may have also decreased the measured weight
of the water, and as we failed to dry the small beaker after each trial, water that remained inside the beaker may
have increased the measured weight of the water.
Analysis Questions
The buoyant force is directly proportional to the submerged volume, and has a linear relationship.
1. What mathematical relationship between the buoyant force and the submerged volume is implied by your data?
2. The buoyant force Fb acting on an object that is partially or completely submerged in a fluid is described by
the equation,
𝐹𝑏 = 𝜌𝑉𝑔
where V is the submerged volume of the object and 𝜌 is the density of the fluid in which the object is
submerged. Use your data to determine an experimental value for the density of the fluid in which you are
submerging the cylinders.
𝜌𝑔 is equal to the slope of our graph which is 12359. Assuming g as 10, 𝜌 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 1235.9 𝑘𝑔/𝑚^3, which is the
experimental density of our fluid in this experiment.
3. Archimedes’ principle states that an object completely submerged or partially submerged in a fluid
experiences an upward buoyant force equal in magnitude to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
Does your data support this statement? If yes, explain how it supports it; if no, identify which data do not
Yes, our data supports this statement. Our slope for the buoyant force vs. weight of fluid displaced is 1.1288. This
value is very close to 1, which indicates that the upward buoyant force is equal in magnitude to the weight of the
fluid displaced by the object.
support it, and what may have cause this disagreement.
Synthesis Questions
1. A wood salvage company is hoisting an old tree trunk off the bottom and out of a lake. The cable from the
hoise is tied around the log above its center of mass. The hoist applies a force of 9,800N to the cable to
suspend the log in the lake water (Twater), and a force of 29,000 N to suspend the log above the lake surface
(Tair). What are the volume and density of the log? Assume the lake water has a density of 1,007 kg/m2.
Show your work on a piece of paper and upload a picture below.
2. A cylinder with radius 5.00 cm and length 20.0 cm is lowered into a tank of glucose, which has a density of
1,385 kg/m3. The cylinder is lowered in four stages:
a. Zero submersion
b. Half-submersion to a depth of 10.0 cm
c. Fully submerged to a depth of 20.0 cm
d. Fully submerged to a depth of 30.0 cm
i. What is the buoyant force on the cylinder at each stage?
a. 0N
b. 10.9N
c. 21.8N
d. 21.8N
ii. After being lowered to a depth of 30.0 cm, the string holding a cylinder is cut. If the net force on the
cylinder after the string is cut is 1.00 N downward, what is the density of the cylinder material?
a. 1451.5 kg/m^3
3. A crab fisherman has built a crab trap out of plastic pipe and wire mesh. The overall mass and volume of the
trap are 5.59 kg and 6,213 cm3, respectively. To catch crab, the trap must sink to the ocean floor. The
fisherman has several lead weights to add to the trap to ensure it sinks. If sea water has density of 1,021
kg/m3, and each lead weight has mass of 113.4 g and volume of 10.0 cm3, what is the minimum number of
weights the fisherman must add so that the trap sinks to the ocean floor? Please show your work on a piece
of paper and attach a picture below.
