SCIENCE- CLASS.
IX - PHYSICS
FLOATATION
Thrust:
The force acting on an object perpendicular to the surface is called thrust.The
S.I. unit of thrust is newton (N).
Pressure:
The thrust on unit area is called pressure. The S.I. unit of pressure is N /m.2
Another unit of pressure is Pascal(Pa).
Relation between force(thrust),area and pressure is Pressure = Force / Area (or)
Thrust / Area.
When a force acts over a large area of an object produces small pressure
When a force acts over a small area of an object produces large pressure
Every day observations on the basis of pressure:
1.The school bags have wide straps
If the school bag has a strap made of thin string ,then the weight of the
school bag will fall over a small area of the shoulder .This produces a large
pressure on the shoulder and it will become difficult to carry the school bag.So
school bags have wide straps.
2.A sharp knife cuts better than a blunt knife
This is because when the force of our hand falls over a very small area of
the object it produces a large pressure which cuts easily.But in a blunt knife force
falls over a large area of the object it produces less pressure and makes difficult to
cut.
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3.The tip of a needle is sharp .
This is because when the needle put the force on a very small
area of the cloth it produces a large pressure which is sufficient to stich
4.A nail has a pointed tip
This is because when it is hammered ,the force of hammer falls on a
very small area of the surface creating a large pressure which pushes the nail into
the surface.
5.A wide steel belt is provided over the wheels of an army tank
This is because they exert less pressure on the ground and do not sink into
it.
6.The buildings and dams have large foundations
This is because weight of the buildings or dams produces less pressure on
ground and may not sink into the ground.
7. Camels have large flat feet.
This is because greater area of feet in contact with the desert sand exerts
less pressure and camels can walk comfortably on the desert sand.
Pressure in fluids:
Those substances that can flow easily are called fluids.
Buoyancy :
The tendency of a liquid to exert an upward force on an object placed in it
,is called buoyancy.
Buoyant force
The upward force acting on an object immersed in a liquid is called
buoyant force.
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Factors affecting buoyant force:
The magnitude of buoyant force acting on an object immersed in a liquid
depends on two factors
(i) Volume of object immersed in the liquid
(ii) Density of the liquid.
Why objects float or sink in a liquid ?
When an object is put in a liquid ,then two forces act on it:
(i) Weight of the object acting downwards
(ii) Buoyant force acting upwards.
(i)If the buoyant force exerted by the liquid is more than or equal to the weight of
the object , the object will float.
(ii)If the buoyant force exerted by the liquid is less than the weight of the object ,
the object will sink.
(iii)If the density of the given object is greater than the density of given liquid the
object will sink.
(iv)If the density of the given object is less than or equal to the density of the
given liquid the object will float.
ARCHIMEDE’S PRINCIPLE
When an object is fully or partially immersed in a fluid ,it experiences an
upward force(buoyant force) which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced
by it .
Why does a ship made of iron and steel float in water whereas a small piece of
iron sinks in it?
A ship made of iron and steel floats in water because its average density is less
than that of water due to the presence of a lot of air space in it.
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When the ship is inside the sea, it sinks in the sea water to a certain level such
that the weight of sea water displaced by its submerged part is equal to the whole
weight of the ship.
A small piece of iron sinks in water because its density is more than the density of
water.
Application of Archimedes’ principle:
Archimedes’ principle is used in
(i)Hydrometers to determine the density of liquids
(ii)Designing ships and submarines
(iii) Lactometers to check the purity of milk.
(iv) Determining the relative density of a substance.
Density :
The density of a substance is defined as mass per unit volume.
Formula: Density = Mass / Volume .
The S.I unit of density is Kg/m3
Objects of density less than that of the liquid , float on the liquid, whereas
objects of density greater than that of the liquid , sink in the liquid.
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