Archimedes Principle - Meaning, Experiments, Examples, FAQs

Q: What is the Archimedes principle?

According to Archimedes' principle, an item totally or partially submerged in a fluid feels an upward buoyant force equal to the force of gravity on the displaced fluid.

Q: Who was the first to discover the Archimedes principle?

The Archimedes principle was discovered by Greek mathematician Archimedes.

Q: What is the application of the Archimedes principle to ships?

Archimedes continued his investigations and developed the buoyancy principle, which states that a ship would float when the weight of the water it displaces equals the weight of the ship and that anything can float if it is shaped to displace its own weight of water before submerging.

Q: Where does the Archimedes principle come into play?

Ships and submarines are designed with the Archimedes principle in mind. The principle of Archimedes is used in hydrometers.

Q: How can you utilize the Archimedes principle to figure out how dense something is?

The buoyant force on a submerged object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. The average density of the object is calculated by dividing the mass by the volume determined thus far.

Archimedes Principle - Meaning, Experiments, Examples, FAQs

Edited By Vishal kumar | Updated on Sep 24, 2024 10:27 AM IST

The Archimedes principle is concerned with the forces exerted on an object by the fluids that surround it. The net weight of an object submerged in a fluid is reduced by this applied force. Let us get acquainted with the Archimedes principle in this essay.

Archimedes

What is Archimedes Principle?

According to Archimedes' principle:

“The weight of the fluid that the body displaces is equivalent to the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether partially or totally submerged, and operates in the upward direction at the center of mass of the displaced fluid.”

Archimedes principle definition and Archimedes meaning: The Archimedes law, developed by Archimedes of Syracuse in Greece, determines the value of thrust force. The apparent loss of weight when an object is partially or totally immersed in a liquid is equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by it.

Any fluid exerts the same amount of pressure in all directions. The weight of the fluid produces this pressure. A fluid exerts an upward pull on an object when it is partially or completely submerged in it. The buoyant force is what causes this upward force. The weight of the object appears to be lighter because of the buoyant force. The weight of the fluid displaced by the object is equal to the reduced weight. Archimedes created this relationship. The notion of buoyancy applies to everything from enormous ships to small boats, aircraft, and submarines.

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What is Archimedes Principle?
Apparent Weight
Application of Archimedes Principle

Archimedes Principle - Meaning, Experiments, Examples, FAQs

Apparent Weight

An object's original weight acts downward through its centre of gravity. When an object is submerged in a fluid, it experiences an upward shove known as buoyant force. The ensuing downward force is reduced as a result of this upward force, and the object feels lighter. The thing is effectively weightless if it floats on the surface. The magnitude of the upward buoyant force is equal to the perceived decrease in weight. The difference between the real weight and the buoyant force determines an object's perceived weight.

Explain Archimedes Principle Derivation

The idea is based on the buoyancy principle, which asserts that any item fully or partially immersed in a gas or liquid can exert an upward pull on it. The buoyant force refers to the upward thrust.

A cylinder of height h and radius r is immersed vertically in a liquid in the diagram above, with its flat surfaces at depths h1 and h2, and h1 < h2. At each point on the cylinder's surface, the liquid exerts a perpendicular thrust (pressure). The net thrust on the curved surface is zero due to axial symmetry. The downward pressure on the upper flat surface is h₁ρg, where g is the gravitational acceleration and ρ is the density of the liquid.

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h₂ρg of upward pressure is exerted on the bottom flat surface. The downward force on the upper surface, if the air pressure is Patm, is

F₁ = (Patm+ h₁ρg)πr²

On the bottom surface, the upward force is,

F₂ = (Patm+ h₂ρg)πr²

The resultant force on the cylinder is upward and the magnitude is, since h1< h2

Fb= F₂ - F₁

Fb= (h₂ - h₁)ρgπr²

The upward thrust can be stated as, where h = h2 - h1 is the cylinder's height and V = πr²h is its volume.

Fb= ρVg

The weight of liquid of equal volume V as the submerged object is the right-hand side of this upthrust Archimedes principle formula. The buoyant force, on the other hand, has the same magnitude as the apparent weight loss of the object. As a result, the apparent drop in object weight equals the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

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Archimedes Principle Experiments

Fill a cup to the full with water and set it in an empty dish.
Now, grab whatever solid object you want and weigh it with a spring balance. Make a note of it.
Submerge the object in the water while it is still attached to the spring balance. Simply ensure that the spring balance is not immersed.
Take note of the weight displayed by the spring balance now. You'll notice that it's decreased. A certain amount of water will be displaced into the bowl.
Collect and weigh this water. You'll notice that the weight loss of the object is exactly equal to the weight loss of the water!

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Law of Floating-

The magnitudes of the object's real weight W1 and the buoyant force W2 exerted by the fluid determine whether an immersed object will float or sink.

W1 > W2: The object's resultant force is downward, causing it to sink. This circumstance occurs when the object's density is larger than the fluid's.
W1 = W2 : The real weight and buoyant force are identical when the densities of the object and the fluid are equal. In a totally immersed state, the object can float at any depth.
W1 <W2 : The net force works in an upward direction, causing the object to be partially submerged. In such instances, the object's density is lower than that of the fluid.

NCERT Physics Notes :

Application of Archimedes Principle

The Archimedes principle has the following applications:

Submarines are always underwater because they include a component called a ballast tank that allows water to enter, causing the submarine to be in its submerged position since the submarine's weight is higher than the buoyant force.

Hot-air balloon: Because the buoyant force of the hot-air balloon is less than that of the surrounding air, hot-air balloons rise and float in mid-air. When the hot-air balloon's buoyant force is greater, it begins to drop. This is accomplished by adjusting the amount of heated air in the balloon.

A hydrometer is a device that is used to determine the relative density of liquids. The hydrometer is made up of lead bullets that float vertically in the liquid. The deeper the hydrometer sinks, the lower the liquid density is.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Archimedes principle?

According to Archimedes' principle, an item totally or partially submerged in a fluid feels an upward buoyant force equal to the force of gravity on the displaced fluid.

2. Who was the first to discover the Archimedes principle?

The Archimedes principle was discovered by Greek mathematician Archimedes.

3. What is the application of the Archimedes principle to ships?

Archimedes continued his investigations and developed the buoyancy principle, which states that a ship would float when the weight of the water it displaces equals the weight of the ship and that anything can float if it is shaped to displace its own weight of water before submerging.

4. Where does the Archimedes principle come into play?

Ships and submarines are designed with the Archimedes principle in mind. The principle of Archimedes is used in hydrometers.

5. How can you utilize the Archimedes principle to figure out how dense something is?

The buoyant force on a submerged object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. The average density of the object is calculated by dividing the mass by the volume determined thus far.