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Floating and Upthrust

A partially submerged object (an object that’s not fully in a liquid) will experience greater pressure on the bottom surface than on the top surface. This creates a resultant force upwards. We call this force upthrust.

Upthrust = weight of liquid displaced

Upthrust = weight of liquid displaced

  • The upthrust that acts on an object is equal to the weight of the liquid that has been forced away (displaced) by that object.
Floating

Floating

  • If the object’s weight is equal to the upthrust, then the forces balance and the object will float in the liquid.
Sinking

Sinking

  • If the object’s weight is greater than the upthrust, then the object will sink.
Jump to other topics
1

Energy

2

Electricity

3

Particle Model of Matter

4

Atoms & Radiation

5

Forces

5.1

Basics of Motion

5.2

Forces

5.3

Effects of Forces

5.4

Pressure

6

Waves

6.1

Wave Basics

6.2

Waves at a Boundary

6.3

Sound Waves

6.4

Electromagnetic Waves

6.5

Lenses

6.6

Heat & Radiation

7

Magnetism

8

Astrophysics

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