ARCHIMEDES’S PRINCIPLE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this chapter you should be able to:
1. State: - Archimedes’s Principle.
2. Describe an experiment to verify the principle.
3. State: - Applications of Archimedes’s Principle.
4. Solve problems involving Archimedes’s Principle.
5. State: - The law of Flotation.
6. Describe an experiment to verify the law of Flotation.
7. State: - Applications of the law of Flotation.
8. Solve problems involving the law of Flotation.
9. Define: - Terminal Velocity
10. (a) Describe: - What happens to a body released to fall in a liquid in a tall
measuring cylinder until it hits the bottom.
(b) Sketch a velocity- time graph for a body falling in a fluid.

10.1 Archimedes’ Principle

Archimedes’ Principle states that:

When a body is wholly or partially immersed in a fluid, it experiences an upthrust equal to
the weight of fluid displaced.
Terms Used.
Upthrust: - a force in a fluid that acts upwards.
Apparent weight: - weight on an object in liquid.

Experiment 10.1 To verify Archimedes’s Principle

Apparatus/Requirements
Displacement can, water, Light and thin string, spring balance, A Suitable solid.
Procedure:
- Fill a displacement can with water till water flows through the spout and wait until the
water ceases (stops) dripping.
- Suspend a solid object using a light string from a spring balance and weigh it in air.
- Place a beaker of known weight under the spout of the displacement can.
- Immerse the solid object in to the water in the displacement can and wait until water
ceases dripping into the beaker.
- Read and record the apparent weight.
- Reweigh the beaker and the displaced water.

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 Figure 10.1
Results:
Let: Weight of solid object in air = Wa N
Weight of solid object in water (Apparent weight) = Ww N
Weight of empty beaker = Wb N
Weight of empty beaker + Displaced water = W(b + w) N
Calculation:
Uptrust (Loss in weight of object) = Wa – Ww N
Weight of water displaced = W(b + w) – Wb N

Conclusion: If Wa – Ww = W(b + w) – Wb,

i.e Upthrust = Weight of fluid displaced, then Archimedes’s principle is
verified.

10.2 Application of Archimedes’s Principle

Archimedes’s Principle is applied in the measurement of relative density of solid and liquid
substances.
Experiment 10.2 To measure the Relative Density of Solid
Apparatus/Requirements
A beaker, water, Light and thin string, spring balance and suitable solid.
Procedure:
- Suspend the solid whose relative is to be determined from a spring balance by
means of light string in air and record its weight.
- Immerse the solid wholly in water and record its apparent weight.
Results:
Let: Weight of solid object in air = Wa N
Weight of solid object in water (Apparent weight) = Ww N

Calculation:
Uptrust (Loss in weight of object) = Weight of water displaced
= Wa – Ww N
But Volume of water displaced = Volume of the solid immersed

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 Weight of subs tan ce
From Relative Density = Weight of an equal volume of water
Wa
= W a− W w
Weight of subs tance in air
I.e. Relative Density = Upthrust in water
Examples
1. A glass stopper weighs 44 N in air and 24N when completely immersed in water.
Calculate the relative density of glass.
Solution
Weight of solid object in air = 44 N
Weight of solid object in water (Apparent weight) = 24 N
Weight of water displaced = Uptrust in water = 44 – 24 N
= 20 N
Weight of subs tance in air 44
Relative Density = Upthrust in water = 20 = 2.2

Experiment 10.3 To measure the Relative Density of Liquid

Apparatus/Requirements
A beaker, water, Light and thin string, spring balance and the liquid.
Procedure
- Suspend a solid from a spring balance by means of light string in air and record its
weight.
- Immerse the solid wholly in water and record its apparent weight.
- Wipe the surface of the solid with a piece of dry cloth and immerse it wholly in the
liquid whose relative density is to be found.
- Read and record its weight.
Results: Let: Weight of solid object in air = Wa N
Weight of solid object in water (Apparent weight) = Ww N
Weight of solid object in liquid (Apparent weight) = Wl N
Calculation: Weight of water displaced = Uptrust in water
= Wa – Ww N
Weight of liquid displaced = Uptrust in liquid
= Wl – Ww N
But in each case, the solid displaces its own volume of liquid.
But Volume of water displaced = Volume of the solid immersed
= Volume of the liquid displaced.
Weight of subs tan ce
From Relative Density = Weight of an equal volume of water

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 Weight of liquid
= Weight of an equal volume of water
Wa − W l
= Wa −Ww
Upthrust in liquid
I.e. Relative Density = Upthrust in water

Worked Example

1. A piece of iron weighs 145 N in air. When completely immersed in water, it weighs 120 N
and weighs 125N when completely immersed in alcohol. Calculate the relative density of
alcohol.

Solution: Weight of solid object in air = 145 N

Weight of solid object in water (Apparent weight) = 120 N
Weight of solid object in liquid (Apparent weight) = 125 N
Calculation: Weight of water displaced = Upthrust in water
= 145 – 120 N
= 25 N
Weight of alcohol displaced = Upthrust in liquid
= 145 – 125 N
= 20 N
Upthrust in liquid 20
Relative Density = Upthrust in water = 25 = 0.8

10.3 Flotation
A body floats in a liquid if its density is less than the density of the liquid. A floating body
sinks deeper in liquids of less density than in liquids whose densities are high. This is seen
when ships move from fresh water to sea or ocean water. The depth to which the ship sinks
is shown by lines called plimsoll line marked on the side of ship.

The law of Flotation

The law of flotation states that:
A floating body displaces its own weight of fluid in which it floats.
(a) Facts about a floating body
 The weight of the floating body = the weight of the fluid displaced.
 The weight of the fluid displaced = Upthrust (Archimedes’s Principles)
 Therefore, the Upthrust = the weight of the floating body
 The mass of the floating body = the mass of the fluid displaced.

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Experiment 10.4 To verify the Law of Flotation
Apparatus: Beaker, water, light string, spring balance, a suitable solid.
Procedure:
- Fill a beaker with water.
- Suspend a solid object in air using a light string from a spring balance and record its
weight.
- Immerse the solid object completely in to the water in the beaker.
- Read and record the apparent weight (weight when the solid object is in liquid).
Observation: The string becomes slack (loose).

Results: Let: Weight of solid object in air = Wa N

Weight of solid object in water = 0.0 N
Calculation: Weight of water displaced = Uptrust in water = Wa – 0.0 N

Conclusion: If Wa – 0.0 = Wa,

I.e. Upthrust = Weight of fluid displaced, then law of flotation is verified.

(b) Relationship between the Density of floating body, Density of liquid and the
Fraction submerged

The density of a floating body is related to the density of the liquid and the fraction
submerged is by the formula:
Density of floating body = Density of liquid x Fraction submerged

Derivation of the formula

Points to note:
 A floating body is supported by the upthrust of the liquid.
 Therefore, in equilibrium,
 the upthrust = the weight of the floating body.
 The mass of the floating body = the mass of the fluid displaced.
 The fraction submerged = the volume of the liquid displaced
Now let;
The mass of the body floating = mb g
The mass of the liquid displaced = The mass of the floating body (Law of flotation)
= mb g
The density of the floating body = ρb g/cm3
The density of the liquid = ρl g/cm3
The volume of the body above the liquid surface = vx cm3
The volume of the body below the liquid surface = vy cm3

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 The volume of the body floating, v = (vx+ vy) cm3
vb
The fraction submerged = (v x + v y )
mb
The density of the floating body, ρb = (v x + v y ) g/cm3
mb = ρb(vx+ vy) ……………………. 1
ml
The density of the liquid, ρl = vy g/cm3 But ml = mb
mb
ρl = v y g/cm3
mb = ρl vy ……………………. 2
Equating equation (1) to (2) we have:
ρb(vx+ vy) = ρl v y

ρb = ρl x
( vy
(v x + v y ) )
 Density of floating body = Density of liquid x Fraction submerged

vy
Note that (v x + v y ) = Fraction of the floating body submerged

Rearranging the equation, we have:

Density of floating body

Fraction submerged = Density of liquid

Worked Examples
4
1. A piece of wood of volume floats with 5 of its volume under a liquid of density
800 kgm3. Find the density of the wood in kgm-3.

4
Solution: Fraction submerged = 5 , Density of the liquid = 800 kgm-3
Using the formula
Density of floating body = Fraction submerged x Density of liquid
4 3200
We have: = 5 x 800 = 5 = 640 kgm3

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2. A piece of wood of volume 240 cm3 floats with three quarters of its volume under water.
Calculate the density of the wood if the density of water is 1000 kgm-3.
Solution: Fraction submerged = ¾, Density of the water = 1000 kgm-3
Density of floating body =Fraction submerged x Density of liquid
3000
= ¾ x 1000 = 4 = 750 kgm-3

10.4 Application of the law of flotation

The practical application of the law of flotation is seen in the following:
(i) Ships
Ships are able to float on water although they are made of metal. This is because
their average densities are less the density of water.
Ships float deeper in fresh water than in salty (sea water). This is because the
density of fresh water is less than the density of salty water.

(ii) Submarines
These are ships that float submerged in water. They are equipped with periscope for
viewing and tanks which can be filled with air or water to alter the density of the
submarine. Thus making the submarine to float afloat, awash or submerged.

(iii) Balloons
Balloons are airships used for recording meteorological measurements.
The balloon is filled with a light gas e.g hydrogen gas until it displaces a weight of
air greater than its own weight. The greater upthrust then pushes the balloon
upwards.
It continuous to rise until the upthrust on it is equal to the weight of the balloon plus
its contents and then floats sideways.
( The lifting power of balloon ) = Upthrust - ( Weight of balloon + Weight of its contents )
Example
1. A balloon has a capacity of 10 m3 and is filled with hydrogen. The balloon’s fabric and the
container have a mass of 1.25 kg. Calculate the maximum mass load the balloon can lift.
(Density of hydrogen = 0.089 kgm-3 and of air = 1.29 kgm-3, gravity, g = 10 ms-2).
Solution: Volume of balloon, v = 10 m3, Density of hydrogen, h = 0.089 kgm-3,
Density of air, a = 1.29 kgm-3, g = 10 ms-2,
Volume of air displaced, va = volume of balloon = 10 m3
Volume of hydrogen, vh = Volume of balloon = 10 m3.
Mass of (balloon + container) = 1.25 kg
Let the mass of the load = x kg
Total mass = Mass of balloon + Mass of Hydrogen + Mass of the load
= 1.25 + vhh + x
= 1.25 + 10 x 0.089 + x
= (1.25 + 0.89 + x) kg
Weight of balloon = Total mass x gravity
= (2.14 + x)g N

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 Weight of displaced air = mg
= vρg
= 10 x 1.29 x g
= 12.9g N
For the balloon just to rise, upward force must be equal to the downward force i.e.
Upthrust = Weight of the load
12.9g = (2.14 + x)g
x = 12.9 - 2.14
 x = 10.76 kg

10.5 Hydrometer
A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure relative density of liquids. It consists of
three main parts, as shown in the diagram below.

The hydrometer is placed in the liquid whose R.D is to be measured and the scale read at
the level of the liquid surface.
NB:
 Sensitivity of the hydrometer increased by making the stem very thin.
 The buoyancy is increased by making the bulb large.
 The smaller scales are at the top and the bigger scales are at the bottom. This is because
the hydrometer floats deeper in lighter liquids than in denser liquids.
Common examples of hydrometers are:
- Car hydrometer (battery tester) - Used to test the state of the charge of a car battery
- Lactometer - Used to test the purity of milk.
10.6 Terminal Velocity
Terminal velocity – is the constant velocity attained by a body falling through a fluid.

Facts about a body falling in a fluid

(i) The body first accelerates i.e. its velocity increases with time.
(ii) After some time, it attains a constant velocity called terminal velocity and falls with
this velocity until it hits the bottom of the cylinder.
A diagram showing a ball bearing falling through a liquid
U V

Where: U = Uthrust

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Weight
 V = Viscosity (fluid friction)

Explanation
As the ball bearing falls through the liquid, the liquid resistance (viscosity) exerts an
upward force opposing the gravity. Since viscosity in fluids increases with velocity (i.e. the
higher the velocity the greater the viscosity), the viscosity or viscous drag increases with
velocity eventually the combined upward force of upthrust and the viscosity is equal to the
weight (force of gravity) on the ball bearing. At this point the resultant force on the ball
bearing is zero and its. As no force acts on the ball bearing, it has no acceleration, but it
acquires a constant velocity called terminal velocity.
When the values of velocity is plotted against time the shape of the graph below is obtained

The graph of velocity against time for a body falling through a fluid

Self-Check 10.0
1. A block of metal (density 2700 kg/m3) has volume 0.09 m3. Calculate the up thrust force
when it is completely immersed in brine (density 1 200 kg/m3)
A. 600 N B. 1 080 N C. 180 N D. 1200 N
2. An iron box of mass 90 g and density 0.9g/cm3 floats on brine (density 1200kg/m3). What
is the volume immersed in the brine?
A. 40 cm3 B. 60 cm3 C. 90 cm3 D. 75 cm3
3. The envelope of a hot air balloon contains 1500 m of hot air of density 0.8 kg/m3. The
3

mass of the balloon (not including the hot air) is 420 kg. the density of surrounding air is
1.3 kg/m3. What is the lifting force?
A. 3 300 N B. 4 400 N C. 5 500 N D. 6 600 N
4. What fraction of a wooden cube of one side 10cm will be below the water level if the cube
is floating in water? (dwater = 1g/cm3, dwood = 0.6 g/cm3)
A. 3/5 B. 2/5 C. 1/5 D. 1/10
5. An ice cube of volume 600 cm floats in water. What is the volume of the part above the
3

water level? (dice = 0.9 g/cm3, dw = 1 g/cm3)

A. 60 cm3 B. 80 cm3 C. 520 cm3 D. 540 cm3
6. A cubical brass block floats in mercury. What fraction of the block lies above the mercury
surface? (the densities of brass and mercury are 8 600 kg/m3 and 13 600 kg/m3
respectively)
A. 86/136 B. 50/86 C. 136/86 D. 50/136

7. A large, hollow plastic sphere is held below the surface of a fresh water pool by a cable
attached to the bottom of the pool. The sphere has a volume of 0.400 m3.
Plastic sphere
Calculate the buoyancy force exerted by the water on the sphere.

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 A. 4 000 N B. 800 N
C. 3 200 N D. 4 800 N

8. A lead sphere has a total mass of 45.2 kg. If it is put into water, what will be the upthrust
force on it? (Density of lead is 11 300 kg/m3)
A. 10 N B. 20 N C. 30 N D. 40 N

9. A block of wood of volume 80cm3 and density 0.5 g/cm3 floats in water. What is the
volume immersed in water (density of water = 1g/cm3)
A. 50 cm3 B. 40 cm3 C. 30 cm3 D. 20 cm3

10. Figure 2 shows a block of volume 40 cm-3 floating in water with only half of its volume
submerged. If the density of water is 1000 kg m-3, determine the mass of
the wood.

A. 40 x 1000 kg. B. 20 x 1000 kg.

C. 40 x 10-6 x 500 kg. D. 20 x 10-6 x 500 kg.

SECTION B
11. (a) State Archimedes’s Principle.
(b) Describe an experiment to verify Archimedes’s Principle.
(c) A piece of iron weighs 355 N in air. When completely immersed in water, it
weighs 305 N and weighs 315 when completely immersed in methylated spirit.
Calculate the relative density of methylated spirit.
(d) State the application of Archimedes’s principle.

12. (a) State the law of flotation.

(b) Describe an experiment to verify the law of flotation.
(c) A piece of wood of volume 40 cm3 floats with only half of volume
submerged. If the density of water is 1000 kg m-3, calculate the density of wood.

13. A balloon has a capacity of 20 m3 and is filled with hydrogen. The balloon’s fabric and the
container have a mass of 2.5 kg. Calculate the maximum mass load the balloon can lift.
(Density of hydrogen = 0.089 kgm-3 and of air = 1.29 kgm-3, gravity, g = 10 ms-2).

14. (a) Define terminal velocity.

(b) Explain with a help of velocity-time graph, what happens to a USA soldier
parachuted from a war plane flying at a high altitude in an area free of enemies in
Iraq from the time he leaves the plane till he lands to the ground.

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