Lesson: Buoyant Force Physics

In this lesson, we will learn how to compare an object’s weight to the weight of the fluid displaced by an object, and explain how this determines an object’s buoyancy.

Lesson Plan

Students will be able to

recognize that a submerged object displaces a volume of fluid equal to the volume of the submerged part of the object,
recognize that fluid pressure acts on all the submerged surfaces of a submerged object,
show that the difference between the fluid pressures on the top of and on the base of a submerged object results in a vertically upward force on the object (called upthrust),
determine the buoyancy condition for an object by comparing the weight of the object to the upthrust on the object,
use the formula buoyant force = fluid mass displaced acceleration due to gravity.