Buoyancy Simulator
Classroom worksheet · Interactive simulation: https://lkforge.com/tools/physics/buoyancy/
Name: Date:
Learning objectives
- State and apply Archimedes’ principle.
- Relate floating and sinking to density.
- Explain the buoyant force on submerged and floating objects.
Variables to change
- Object density
- Object volume
- Fluid density
Procedure
- Place an object less dense than the fluid and observe it float.
- Increase the object’s density past the fluid’s and observe it sink.
- Change the fluid density and see how the floating level changes.
Observations
Record whether each object floats or sinks and how much of a floating object sits below the surface.
Questions
- State Archimedes’ principle.
- What determines whether an object floats or sinks?
- For a floating object, how does buoyant force compare to weight?
- Why does a steel ship float though steel is denser than water?
- What fraction of an iceberg floats above water (ρ_ice≈0.92, ρ_water≈1.0)?
Answer key (instructors)
- 1. The buoyant force equals the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
- 2. Its density relative to the fluid: less dense floats, more dense sinks.
- 3. They are equal — the object is in equilibrium.
- 4. Its hull shape displaces a large volume of water, so average density (including air) is less than water’s.
- 5. About 8% above; roughly 92% is submerged.
Buoyant force equals the weight of displaced fluid (Archimedes’ principle). An object floats when it is less dense than the fluid and sinks when denser; a floating object displaces exactly its own weight of fluid.