49 Archimedes Principle

49 Archimedes’ Principle 49 - Page 1 of 4
Archimedes’ Principle
Equipment
1 Force Sensor PS-2189

1 Density Set ME-8569
1 Braided String SE-8050
1 90 cm Rod ME-8738
1 45 cm Rod ME-8736
1 Multi-Clamp ME-9507
1 Large Rod Base ME-8735
Required but not included:
1 Calipers SE-8710
1 1000 ml Beaker SE-7288
Introduction
Archimedes' Principle states: "When an object is submerged in a fluid, the fluid exerts an
upwards buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object".
In this lab, the buoyant force on an object is measured by taking the difference between the
object's weight in air, and its apparent weight in water. This measured buoyant force is compared
to the theoretical value calculated using the object's volume, and Archimedes' Principle.
Several objects of different shapes are examined: Some of the objects have the same density,
some have the same volume, and some have the same mass. The dependence of the buoyant
force on density, mass, volume and shape is explored.
Figure 1: Measuring the Buoyant Force
When an object is submerged in a fluid,

the apparent weight of the object is less
than the weight in air because of the
upward buoyant force. Thus the
buoyant force can be calculated by
finding the difference between the
weight of the object in air and the
apparent weight of the object when it is
submerged in water.
Written by Jon Hanks

Setup
1. Use the base, rods and multi-clamp to support the Force Sensor over the beaker as shown
in Figure 1.
2. Plug in the sensor. Zero the sensor.
3. Tie a piece of string onto each of the masses. Tie a loop on the other end of the string so
that it can be hooked onto the sensor.
4. Put 1000 ml of water in the beaker, but don't submerge the samples yet!
5. In PASCO Capstone, set the sample rate to 500 Hz. Change the Sampling Mode to Fast
Monitor.
6. Create a table as shown below. Create a User-Entered Data set called “Object” and fill in
the types of objects. Create User-Entered Data sets called “W air” (Weight in air) and “W
water” (Weight in water), both with units of N. The last column contains a calculation.
Table I: Buoyant Force = Weight in Air – Weight in Water

W air W water Wair – Wwater
Object
(N) (N) (N)
Brass Cylinder
Aluminum Cylinder
Brass Cube
Aluminum Cube
Aluminum Shape
In the Capstone calculator, create the following calculations:
Wair - Wwater = [W air (N)]-[W water (N)] with units of N

Weight = abs(avgfilter(100,[Force (N)])) with units of N
Buoyant Force = ρ*[Volume (cc)]*g/1000 with units of N
ρ = 1.00 with units of g/cm3
g = 9.81 with units of m/s2
7. Create a Digits display with the calculation “Weight”.
Procedure: Using Weight
1. With nothing hanging on the Force Sensor, click on Monitor. Note the weight being
shown in the digits display.
2. Hang the brass cylinder on the Force Sensor with the beaker moved out of the way, so
that the sample hangs in air.

3. Record the weight in the "W air" column of Table I.
Note that you don't need to start and stop recording. The program is in "Monitor" mode,
where it continually updates the display, but doesn't actually record any data.
4. Move the beaker with water under the Force Sensor, and hang the sample completely
submerged as shown in Figure 1. Adjust the height if necessary.
5. Record the weight in the "W water" column. Note that the buoyant force = "weight in air
- weight in water" is automatically calculated in the last column.
6. Repeat for the other listed samples, including the irregularly shaped aluminum piece.
Always check to make sure that the weight reads zero with the sample removed, and that
the sample is completely submerged but not touching the bottom when measuring in
water.
7. When you have made all your measurements, click on Stop.
Procedure: Using Volume
8. Create a table as shown below. Select “Object” in the first column. Create a User-Entered
Data set called “Volume” with units of cc. Select the calculation “Buoyant Force” in the
third column.
Table II: Buoyant Force = Weight of Fluid Displaced

Volume Buoyant Force
Object
(cc) (N)
Brass Cylinder
Aluminum Cylinder
Brass Cube
Aluminum Cube
Aluminum Shape
9. Use calipers to measure the radius and height of the brass cylinder, and record your
measurements.
10. Calculate the volume of the cylinder and record the value in Table II.
11. Note that the Buoyant Force = "weight of water displaced" is automatically calculated in
the last column. Calculate the value yourself to confirm that it is correct. Pay attention to
the units! Remember that the relationship between mass (m), density (ρ) and volume (V)
is
m = ρV
Hint: To calculate the weight of water displaced, you must use the density of water!

ρwater = 1.00 g/cc

Finally, remember that the buoyant force is the weight of the displaced fluid, not just the
mass. You can look at the equation used in the Calculator for help.
12. Use calipers to measure the dimensions of the other samples and record their volumes in
the table. To calculate the volume of the irregularly shaped object, use its weight and
assume it has the same density as the other aluminum shapes.
Analysis
13. Create a table as shown below. Select “Object” in the first column, “Wair – Wwater” in
the second column, and “Buoyant Force” in the third column. Create a User-Entered Data
set called “% Difference” in the fourth column.
Table III: Weight Method vs. Volume Method

Wair – Wwater Buoyant Force
Object % Difference
(N) (N)
Brass Cylinder
Aluminum Cylinder
Brass Cube
Aluminum Cube
Aluminum Shape
14. Table III shows the results for the buoyant force calculated using the apparent weight
(weighing method) and directly using Archimedes' Principle (volume method). What do
you conclude?
15. Calculate the % difference for each sample.
16. Which other samples have approximately the same volume as the aluminum cylinder.
How do their values for the buoyant force compare? Explain how this can be, even when
the other sample doesn't have the same mass, density, size or shape?
17. If you re-did this experiment with the brass mass only half submerged, what would
change? Would the "weight method" still give you the same answer for the buoyant force
as the "volume method"? Try it!
18. The plastic cylinder that comes with the Density Set floats in water. What does it tell you
about its density? What is its apparent weight when floating? What is the buoyant force
acting on it while floating? What would be the buoyant force if it was completely
submerged?
19. If you added salt to the water in the beaker, it would change its density. How could you
use the apparent weight of the brass cylinder hanging in the salt water to find this new
density? Try it!

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49 Archimedes’ Principle 49 - Page 1 of 4

1 Force Sensor PS-2189

Figure 1: Measuring the Buoyant Force

When an object is submerged in a fluid,

Written by Jon Hanks

2. Plug in the sensor. Zero the sensor.

Table I: Buoyant Force = Weight in Air – Weight in Water

In the Capstone calculator, create the following calculations:

Wair - Wwater = [W air (N)]-[W water (N)] with units of N

7. Create a Digits display with the calculation “Weight”.

Procedure: Using Weight

Written by Jon Hanks

3. Record the weight in the "W air" column of Table I.

7. When you have made all your measurements, click on Stop.

Procedure: Using Volume

Table II: Buoyant Force = Weight of Fluid Displaced

Written by Jon Hanks

ρwater = 1.00 g/cc

Table III: Weight Method vs. Volume Method

15. Calculate the % difference for each sample.

Written by Jon Hanks

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