Buoyancy Calculator (F_b = ρVg)
Buoyancy Calculator (F_b = ρVg)
Archimedes' principle states that the buoyant force on a submerged (or partially submerged) object equals the weight of the fluid it displaces - which is why a massive steel ship floats (it displaces enough water to equal its weight) while a small steel ball sinks (it can't displace enough). Enter the fluid density, the volume of fluid displaced, and the object's mass, and this calculator finds the buoyant force, compares it to the object's weight, and tells you whether it floats, sinks, or is neutrally buoyant.
- F_b = ρ_fluid × V × g, so an object displacing 0.002 m³ (2 liters) of water (ρ=1000 kg/m³) experiences a buoyant force of 1000 × 0.002 × 9.81 = 19.62 N.
- An object floats if the buoyant force exceeds its weight - a 1.5 kg object (weight = 1.5 × 9.81 = 14.72 N) displacing 2 liters of water gets 19.62 N of buoyant force, more than enough to float.
- This is why ships made of steel float - it's not about the material's density alone, but about the *shape*: a ship's hollow hull displaces a huge volume of water, generating enough buoyant force to support its total weight, even though solid steel itself is much denser than water.
How do I calculate buoyant force?
Use F_b = ρ_fluid × V × g, where ρ_fluid is the fluid's density, V is the submerged volume, and g is gravitational acceleration. For 2 liters of water: F_b = 1000 × 0.002 × 9.81 = 19.62 N.
How do I know if an object floats or sinks?
Compare the buoyant force to the object's weight (mass × gravity) - if the buoyant force is larger, it floats; if smaller, it sinks; if equal, it's neutrally buoyant.
Buoyancy Calculator (F_b = ρVg)
Archimedes' principle states that the buoyant force on a submerged (or partially submerged) object equals the weight of the fluid it displaces - which is why a massive steel ship floats (it displaces enough water to equal its weight) while a small steel ball sinks (it can't displace enough). Enter the fluid density, the volume of fluid displaced, and the object's mass, and this calculator finds the buoyant force, compares it to the object's weight, and tells you whether it floats, sinks, or is neutrally buoyant.
- F_b = ρ_fluid × V × g, so an object displacing 0.002 m³ (2 liters) of water (ρ=1000 kg/m³) experiences a buoyant force of 1000 × 0.002 × 9.81 = 19.62 N.
- An object floats if the buoyant force exceeds its weight - a 1.5 kg object (weight = 1.5 × 9.81 = 14.72 N) displacing 2 liters of water gets 19.62 N of buoyant force, more than enough to float.
- This is why ships made of steel float - it's not about the material's density alone, but about the *shape*: a ship's hollow hull displaces a huge volume of water, generating enough buoyant force to support its total weight, even though solid steel itself is much denser than water.
How do I calculate buoyant force?
Use F_b = ρ_fluid × V × g, where ρ_fluid is the fluid's density, V is the submerged volume, and g is gravitational acceleration. For 2 liters of water: F_b = 1000 × 0.002 × 9.81 = 19.62 N.
How do I know if an object floats or sinks?
Compare the buoyant force to the object's weight (mass × gravity) - if the buoyant force is larger, it floats; if smaller, it sinks; if equal, it's neutrally buoyant.