FLOATATION
Thrust: The total force acting perpendicularly on a surface of an object is known as thrust. The word is
generally concerned with a physical quantity known as pressure. Since thrust is in itself a force, so the
S.I. unit of thrust is same as that of force. i.e. Newton (N).
Pressure: the pressure is defined as the force acting perpendicularly on a unit area of the object. In
other words, we can say pressure is the force per unit area.
i.e. Pressure = Force/Area or P=F/A
Since the S.I. unit of force is Newton (N) and that of area is square metre (m2). Therefore the S.I.
unit of pressure is Newton per metre square (N/m2) or Nm-2 which is known as Pascal.
i.e. 1 Pascal = 1 Newton per square metre.
Or, 1P = 1 n/m2
One Pascal is defined as the pressure on a surface of area of 1 m^2 by a thrust of 1N
Buoyancy: When an object is immersed in a fluid, it expresses an upward force exerted by the fluid. This
upward force is known as buoyancy or the buoyant force. In other words, the upward force exerted on
an object immersed in a liquid is called buoyant force. It is also known as up-thrust. The magnitude of
this buoyant force depends upon the density of the liquid. Greater the density of the fluid greater will be
the magnitude of the buoyant force.
Conditions of floatation: In order to find why objects float on the surface of the water and why liquids
exert upward thrust. We will consider a mug filled with water immersed in a bucket containing water.
Water exerts force on sides of the mug as well as on its top and bottom. The sideways forces exerted by
the water on the mug, being equal and opposite, cancel out each other. Now, when the force of water is
acting on top of the mug and a force of water acting on the bottom of the mug equalises each other in
opposite direction. It is known that the pressure exerted by a liquid increases with depth and acts in all
directions.
Now, as the top of the mug is at lower depth in water, it experiences less force downwards
directions and the bottom of mug is at a greater depth in water. So it experiences more force in the
upward directions. Thus, there is a net force on the mug in the upward direction. The net upward force
acting on its bottom and the downward force acting on its top. This net upward force acting on the mug
is the buoyant force, which reduces the effective weight of mug and makes it feel lighter. From
the above activity it is clear that, as lower an object into a liquid, the greater upward pressure of liquid
underwent it provides an upward force called as the buoyant force (or up-thrust). So it is this up-thrust
that keeps an object floating.
The two factors that affect the magnitude of buoyant force are
i. Volume of object immersed in the liquid, and
ii. The density of the liquid.
Archimedes principle: The Archimedes principle states that when an object is wholly or partially
immersed in a liquid, it experiences a buoyant force or up-thrust which is equal to the weight of the
liquid displaced by the object.
i.e. Buoyant force acting on object = weight of liquid displaced by the object.
Consider a container C1 filled with water up to the level from where water pipe P extends out.
The outer end of the pipe P opens to a small container C2 placed on a weighing balance which measures
00.00kg. A block B hangs on a spring balance S which shows a reading of 7 kg. If we
partially immerse the block in water, we observe some water flows out from C1 to C2 through P. The
weighing machine shows a reading 1 kg and the loss of reading of weighing machine is 7 – 6 = 1 kg.
This means that weight of water displaced by the block is equal to loss in weight of block. Now, we
completely immerse the block in water, we observe that the weight of water displaced by the block is 5
kg. The loss of weight of block is 7 – 2 = 5 kg. Again it is clear that weight of water displaced by the
block is equal to the loss in weight of block.
Applications of Archimedes principle:
i. It is used in determining the relative density of a substance.
ii. The hydrometers used for determining the density of liquids are based on Archimedes
principle.
iii. The lactometers used for determining the purity of milk are based on Archimedes principle.
iv. Archimedes principle is used in designing ships and submarines.
Density: The density of a substance is defined as mass of the substance per unit volume.
i.e. Density = Mass of the substance/volume of the substance.
Or, Density = mass /volume
The S.I. Unit of density is kilogram per cubic metre (Kg/m3)
Relative density: The relative density of a substance is the density of the substance divided by the density
of water at 40C. In other words the relative density of a substance is the ratio of its density to the density
of water.
i.e. Relative density of a substance = Density of substance/Density of water at 40C.
In C.G.S system, the density of water at 40C is 1 g/cm3.
Therefore, In C.G.S system, Relative density = Density of substance / 1
Or, Relative density = Density of substance.
In S.I. system, the density of water is 1000 kg/m3
Therefore, Relative Density = Density of substance / 1000
=> Density of substance = 1000 x relative Density.
Specific gravity: Specific gravity of a substance is a simple comparison of its density to that of the density
of water.Therefore, Specific Gravity = weight of solid in air / Weight of equal volume of water
=> Specific gravity = Weight of solid in air / weight of water displaced by solid By Archimedes
Principle
Or, Specific gravity of solid = weight of solid in air / loss of weight by solid in water
Therefore, Specific gravity of solid = W/ (W – Wa)
Where W = Weight of solid.
Wa=apparent weight of solid in water.
Why do objects float or sink in a liquid: Whether an object will float or sink in a liquid will depend upon
the relative magnitude of two forces. i.e. weight of the object acting downwards and the buoyant force
acting on the body in opposite upward direction. Whether a body float or sink in liquid depends upon
the three conditions.
i. If the buoyant force exerted by liquids on the objects is less than the weight of the object, the
body will sink in the liquid.
ii. If the buoyant force exerted by liquid on the object is equal to the weight of the body, then the
object will float easily on the surface of the liquid.
iii. If the buoyant force exerted on an object is greater than weight of body, the body will rise in
the liquid and then starts floating.
So, it is clear from the three cases that if the upthrust or buoyant force of liquid on an object is
greater enough to overcome the weight of the body, the body will float or else it will sink.
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS:
Q1. Why is it difficult to hold a school bag having a strap made of a thin and strong string?
Ans: In case of a thin strap of school bag, the area of contact of our hand and the strap is very less and
hence the force due to the weight of the school bag acts on a smaller area and exerts larger pressure
and is concentrated on few points only and thus it is larger in magnitude. This is the reason why it is
difficult to held a school bag having a thin strap.
Q2. What do you mean by buoyancy?
Ans: Buoyancy: When an object is immersed in a fluid, it expresses an upward force exerted by the fluid.
This upward force is known as buoyancy or the buoyant force. In other words, the upward force exerted
on an object immersed in a liquid is called buoyant force. It is also known as up-thrust. The magnitude
of this buoyant force depends upon the density of the liquid. Greater the density of the fluid greater will
be the magnitude of the buoyant force.
Q3. Why does an object float or sink when placed on the surface of the water?
Ans: Whether an object will float or sink in a liquid will depend upon the relative magnitude of two
forces. i.e. weight of the object acting downwards and the buoyant force acting on the body in opposite
upward direction. Whether a body float or sink in liquid depends upon the three conditions.
i. If the buoyant force exerted by liquids on the objects is less than the weight of the object, the
body will sink in the liquid.
ii. If the buoyant force exerted by liquid on the object is equal to the weight of the body, then the
object will float easily on the surface of the liquid.
iii. If the buoyant force exerted on an object is greater than weight of body, the body will rise in
the liquid and then starts floating.
Q1. You find your mass to be 42 kg on a weighing machine. Is your mass more or less than 42 kg?
Ans: Since the weight measured by the weighing machine is decreased slightly due to the up-thrust
exerted by the air on our body.
Q2. You have a bag of cotton and an iron bar, each indicating a mass of 100 kg when measured on a
weighing machine. In reality, one is heavier than other. Can you which one is heavier and why?
Ans: Due to larger volume of the cotton the area of contact between cotton bag and the air will be larger
and hence the upthrust exerted by air on cotton bag will be greater. Therefore the cotton bag will be
more heavier than iron bag due to larger volume of the cotton.
Q1. In what direction does the buoyant force on the object immersed in a liquid act?
Ans: The buoyant force always acts in the upward direction when an object is immersed in the liquid
because the pressure exerted by the object will be downwards.
Q2. Why does a block of plastic does released under water come up to the surface of water?
Ans: It is because the density of the plastic block is less than density of water and the upthrust exerted
by the water is more than the weight of the plastic block. Hence the plastic block floats on the water.
Q3. The volume of 50g of a substance is 20 cm2. If the density of water is 1 g cm-3, will the substance
float or sink?
Ans: mass of the substance (m) = 50 g
Volume of the substance (v) = 20 cm3
We know that, Density = mass/volume = m/v
= 50/20 g cm-3
= 2.5 g cm-3
Since the density of the object is greater than the density of the water, therefore the upthrust
on the substance will be less than its weight. Hence the substance will sink.
Q4. The volume of a 500 g sealed packet is 350 cm3. Will the packet float or sink in the water if the
density of water is 1 gcm-3? What will be the mass of the water displaced by this packet?
Ans: mass (m) = 500 g
Volume (v) = 350 cm3
We know that
Density = mass/volume
= 500/350
= 1.43 g/cm3
Since the density of the packet is more than the density of water, the upthrust of water on the
packet will be lesser than its weight, so the packet will sink.
Mass of the water displaced will be equal to the product of the density of the water and the volume
of the water displaced. i.e. 1 g cm-3 x 350 cm3 = 350 g.
