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Depth Control of Submarine

Physics: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 5.4.7

Depth Control of Submarine

Submarines use the balance between upthrust and weight to control their depth in water.

Sinking

Sinking

  • When a submarine wants to sink, it fills its tanks with water to increase its weight.
  • This means the submarine’s weight is greater than the upthrust and it sinks.
Rising

Rising

  • When a submarine wants to come up to the surface, it fills its tanks with compressed air to reduce its weight.
  • Weight becomes less than upthrust so the submarine rises.

Test yourself on Depth Control of Submarine

  • When a submarine wants to rise to the surface, which of these should it do?

  • What happens to a submarine when its weight is greater than its upthrust?

  • What happens to a submarine when its weight is equal to its upthrust?

  • What happens to a submarine when its weight is less than its upthrust?

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