Buoyancy and the Archimedes Force
Purpose: To investigate the force exerted by a fluid on a submerged object.
Objectives
- To learn how to measure the buoyancy force on a submerged object.
Equipment
- Graduated cylinders
- A metal object
- Mass Scale
Theory
When an object is submerged in a fluid it displaces fluid volume equal to its own volume.
The force exerted by the fluid on a submerged object is equal to the weight of the displaced fluid and is called the Archimedes force.
(Buoyancy Force) = (fluid density) ×(the gravitational acceleration) × (Displaced Volume)
Experiment, Data and Results
We will calculate the buyoancy force in two different ways and compare the value
Activity 1: Determine the buoyancy force by measuring the displaced volume
- Fill the graduated cyllinder with water and mark the water level.
- Submerge the metal object and mark the new water level.
- Determine the displaced volume and calculate the buoyancy force.
Activity 2: Determine the buoyancy force by measuring the mass and the apparent mass
Measure the mass of the object.
Submerge the object in water and measure its mass>
Calculate the boyancy force.
Do the two values for the buoyancy force agree?
Which method do you think is more accurate. Justify your arguments.