Chapter 3

Sinking and Floating

Specific Objectives
By the end of this topic the leaner should be able to:
a) State Archimedes’ principle
b) Verify Archimedes’ principle
c) State the law of flotation
d) Define relative density
e) Describe the applications of Archimedes’ principle and relative
density.
f) Solve numerical problems involving Archimedes’ principle
Content
1. Archimedes’ principle,
2. Law of flotation (experimental treatment)
3. Relative density
4. Applications of Archimedes’ principle and relative density.
5. Problems on Archimedes’ principle
6. Project Work – Construct a hydrometer.
 Upthrust force
Upthrust is an upward force acting on an object floating or
immersed in a fluid. An object immersed or floating in a fluid
appears lighter than its actual weight due to upthrust force (force of
buoyancy).
Archimedes principle.
The principle states: When a body is totally or partially immersed in
a fluid it experiences an upthrust equal to the weight of displaced
fluid.
To
An verify Archimedes’
over flow can principle
Apparatus
A metal block
A beaker
Procedure
(i) Weigh the block in air.
(ii) Note the weight of the block in air as w1.
(iii) Immerse the block in water in the overflow can as shown in the
diagram below.
Note the weight of the block when fully
immersed as W2
Measure the volume of water displaced and
calculates its weight as W3
.
Apparent loss of weight = W1
-
W2
The upthrust U = W3
Precisely: Upthrust = Real weight – Apparent weight. Cause of
upthrust
Consider the figure below:
Pressure at the bottom > pressure at the top
PB =P A +h2ρg
PT
=
P+
h
Aρ
g
1
Force = pressure × area
FB= PBA =(PA +h ρ
2 g) A
FT
T h1 FT = PT
A
=(
P
+
Ah
ρ
1g
)
A
h2
h
Resultant force = FB
–
F
T
B
FB U = (PA
+
h
2ρ
g
)
A-
(
Pa
+
hρ
g
)
1A
U = (h2
-
h
)
1ρ
gA
Example
A stone of weight 3N in air and 1.2N when totally immersed water.
Calculate:
(a) Volume of the stone
(b) Density of the stone
Solution
Up thrust = Real weight – Apparent weight
= 3N – 1.2N
= 1.8N
But U = Vρg
1.8 = V x 1000 x 10
Example
A stone of weight 3N in air and 1.2N when totally immersed water.
Calculate:
(a) Volume of the stone
(b) Density of the stone
Solution
Up thrust = Real weight – Apparent weight
= 3N – 1.2N
= 1.8N
But U = Vρg
1.8 = V x 1000 x 10
Questions
1. A Solid of density 2.5 g/cm3 is weighed in air and then when
completely immersed in water in a measuring cylinder. The Level of
water rises from 40cm3 to 80cm3. Determine:
(a) Volume of the solid
(b) Its apparent weight.
2. a) State the Archimedes’ principle
b) A right angled solid of dimensions 0.02m by 0.02m by 0.2m and
density 2700kgm-3 is supported inside kerosene of density 800
kgm-3 by a thread which is attached to a spring balance. The long
side is vertical and the upper surface is 0.1m below the surface of
kerosene.
(i) Calculate the force due to the liquid on:
(ii) The lower surface of the solid
(iii) The upper surface of the solid
(iv) Calculate the upthrust and hence or otherwise determine the
Questions
3. (a) Distinguish between pressure and upthrust force.
(b) A solid metal block of density 2500 kg/m3 is Spring
Balance
fully immersed in water, supported by a thread
which is attached to the spring balance as 12m

shown.
Water
(i) Calculate the force due to the liquid on the
top face of the block. Cross-
Sectional
(ii) If the upward force on the bottom face is area = 4 cm2
1.5N, calculate the volume of the block.
(iii) Calculate the apparent weight of the block in
water.
Upthrust in gases
Gases exert small upthrust on objects because of their low density. A
balloon filled with hydrogen or helium rises up because of low density.
U In the figures above the balloon filled
W>U with air will not float because the
Air weight of the balloon fabric and air is
greater than the weight of air
displaced (upthrust)
i.e. W > U. The balloon filled with
helium or hydrogen floats because the
weight of the balloon fabric and
helium or hydrogen is less than the
W weight of the air displaced (upthrust) i.
e. U > W
Law of Flotation
In this case we consider the floating object and weight of the fluid
displaced. A comparison of the weight of the object and that of fluid
displaced. Test tube Experimentally this can be done by:
Measurin  ½ fill measuring cylinder with water and record
g Cylinder
Sand
the reading.
Water  Place a clean dry test tube into the beaker and
add some sand in it so that it floats upright.
 Records the new level of the liquid. Determine the volume of displaced
water.
 Measure its weight (dried) and content.
 Calculate the weight of displaced water.
It is observed that the weight of the test tube and its content is equal to
 OR
Apparatus
A block of wood, A spring balance, Thin thread, Overflow can, A small
measuring cylinder and Some water.
Using the apparatus above, describe an experiment to verify the law
of floatation.
Using the spring balance, weigh and record the weight of the block
in air
Fill the eureka completely with water.
Place the measuring cylinder under the spout
Lower the block of wood slowly in to water until the string slackens
(the block floats)
Collect the displaced water using the measuring cylinder
Repeat the procedure to attain more results.
Compare the weight of displaced water with the weight of block in
air. They are equal (same).
Therefore we conclude that a floating object displaces its own weight
 OR
Explanation:
When a body is submerged in water, there are two forces acting on the
body;
(i) The weight of the body acting downwards
(ii) Upthrust on the body due to displaced liquid acting upwards.
Case1
If the weight of the body is greater than upthrust, the density of the
body is greater than the density of the displaced liquid, the body sinks.
Case2
If the weight of the body is equal to upthrust, the density of the body is
equal to the density of the liquid, the body remains in equilibrium.
Case3
If the weight of the body is less than the upthrust, density of the body is
less than the density of the liquid, the body floats partially in the liquid.
Upthrust and Relative Density
Relative density of solid which floats in water
Relative density of a liquid
Example 1
 Example 2
The wooden block below floats in two liquids x and y. if the densities of
x and y are 1g/cm3 and 0.8g/cm3 respectively determine:
(i) Mass of the block
(ii) Density of the block
Volume of y displaced = 4 x 5 x 3
= 60cm3
= 0.00006m 3
cm
5 4 cm Upthrust in = vρg
3 cm = 800 × 0.00006 × 10
y
3 cm = 0.48N
Volume of x displaced = 0.04 × 0.05 ×
x 0.06
6 cm

= 0.00012m3
Upthrust in x = vρg
=0.00012m3
 Applications of Archimedes’ Principle and Relative Density
(a) The hydrometer
It is an instrument used to find
Min relative densities of density of
Stem
Scale on
liquids. It applies the law of
stem flotation in its operation.
It has a wide bulb to displace
Weighted glass
Bulb
large volume of liquid that
provide sufficient upthrust to
Max
keep hydrometer floating.
Bulb Lead shots at the bottom-to
make hydrometer float upright.
Lead Shot Narrow stem-to make
hydrometer more sensitive.
 Applications of Archimedes’ Principle and Relative Density
(a) The hydrometer
Some hydrometers are designed for specific
purposes e.g.
Bulb Lactometer with a range of 1.015 - 1.0045 so
as to measure density of milk.
Brewer’s hydrometer used to measure the
relative density of beer.
Hydromete Battery acid hydrometer - The bulb is
r
Glass squeezed and released so that the acid is
Acid drawn into the glass tube.
 Applications of Archimedes’ Principle and Relative Density
(b) Balloons
Used by meteorologists where a gas which is less dense than air like
hydrogen is used. The balloon moves upwards because upthrust force
is greater than weight of the balloon. It rises to some height where
density is equal to that of the balloon. At this point the balloon stops
rising because upthrust is equal to weight of the balloon and therefore
resultant force is equal to zero.
(c) Ships
They are made of steel which is denser than water but floats because
they are hollow thereby displacing a large volume of water than the
volume of steel which provides enough upthrust to support its weight.
The average density of sea water is greater than the average density of
fresh water. Due to this difference, ships are fitted with plimsol lines on
their sides to show the level that a ship should sink to when on various
 Applications of Archimedes’ Principle and Relative Density
(d) Sub-marine
It can sink or float. It is fitted with ballast tanks that can be filled with
air or water hence varying its weight. To sink, ballast tanks are filled
with water so that its weight is greater than upthrust. To float
compressed air is pumped into the tank displacing water so that
upthrust is greater than weight of the submarine.
Examples
Examples
The densities of liquids may be measured using hydrometers. The
hydrometer in the figure consists of a weighted bulb with a thin stem.
The hydrometer is floated in the liquid and
the density is read from a scale on its stem.
Scale on
stem
The hydrometer in the figure is designed to
measure densities between 1.00gcm-3 and
1.10 gcm -3. On the diagram, mark with the
Weighted glass
Bulb letter M the position on the scale of the 1.10
gcm-3 graduation. The hydrometer has a
mass of 165g and the stem has a uniform
cross-sectional area of 0.750cm2. Calculate;
(i) The change in the submerged volume of
the hydrometer when it is first placed in a
liquid of density 1.00gcm-3 and then in a
liquid of density 1.10 gcm-3
Volume of 1.00 g/cm3 liquid displaced = m/ρ = 165/1 = 165cm3;
Volume of 1.10g/cm3 displaced = 165/1.1 = 150 cm3;
Change in volume displaced = 165 – 150 = 15cm3 ;
Volume = Area x Height;
0.75 x h ; therefore h=20cm.

(ii)State two ways of improving the sensitivity of the abovehydrometer.

-Using a hydrometer with a narrow stem.
-Using a hydrometer with a largebulb
2. When a body of mass 450g is completely immersed in a liquid, the
upthrust on the body is 1.6N. Find the weight of the body in the liquid.
3. The figure below shows a lever arrangement with the rod balanced
by a knife edged at a centre of gravity. The 5N weight on one side
balances the solid S (volume 100cm3) which lies immersed in a
beaker of water on the other side The beaker of water is then
42 cm 36 cm
removed and while keeping the
42cm distance constant, the
position of solid S is adjusted to
obtain balance conditions again.
5N a) Determine the new position of
S
S.
b) What would be the new
position of S if it was immersed in
 Reference
Oliver Minish etal, Secondary Physics, Students Book Four, 4th
edition, KLB, Nairobi, 2017 Page 58 - 78