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Buoyant Force Formula:
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Buoyant force is the upward force exerted by a fluid on any object placed in it. According to Archimedes' principle, the magnitude of this force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
The calculator uses the buoyant force formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the upward force experienced by an object submerged in a fluid, which depends on the fluid's density, the volume of fluid displaced, and gravitational acceleration.
Details: Calculating buoyant force is essential for designing ships, submarines, and other marine vessels. It's also crucial in understanding why objects float or sink and is fundamental in fluid mechanics and hydrodynamics.
Tips: Enter fluid density in kg/m³, displaced volume in m³, and gravitational acceleration in m/s². All values must be positive numbers. The standard value for Earth's gravity is 9.81 m/s².
Q1: What's the difference between buoyant force and weight?
A: Weight is the downward force due to gravity, while buoyant force is the upward force exerted by a fluid. An object floats when buoyant force equals its weight.
Q2: Does buoyant force depend on the object's material?
A: No, buoyant force depends only on the fluid's density and the volume of fluid displaced, not on the object's material or composition.
Q3: How is this related to Archimedes' principle?
A: This formula is a mathematical expression of Archimedes' principle, which states that the buoyant force equals the weight of the displaced fluid.
Q4: What if the object is only partially submerged?
A: For partially submerged objects, V represents only the volume of the object that is below the fluid surface.
Q5: How does saltwater vs freshwater affect buoyancy?
A: Saltwater has higher density than freshwater, so objects will experience greater buoyant force in saltwater, making them float higher.