The greater the volume of an object submerged in a fluid, the greater the upthrust it experiences.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Upthrust, also known as buoyant force, is the upward force exerted by a fluid (liquid or gas) that opposes the weight of an immersed object. The magnitude of the upthrust is directly related to the volume of the fluid displaced by the object. This principle is encapsulated in Archimedes' Principle.
Archimedes' Principle Explained
Archimedes' Principle states that the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces.
- Upthrust = Weight of the fluid displaced
This can be represented by the following formula:
-
Upthrust (F_b) = V * ρ * g- Where:
V= Volume of the fluid displaced (which is equal to the volume of the object submerged).ρ= Density of the fluid.g= Acceleration due to gravity.
- Where:
Volume and Upthrust: A Direct Relationship
From the formula above, we can clearly see that the upthrust (Fb) is directly proportional to the volume (V) of the fluid displaced. If we keep the density of the fluid (ρ) and acceleration due to gravity (g) constant, then:
- If the volume of the object submerged increases, the upthrust also increases proportionally.
- If the volume of the object submerged decreases, the upthrust also decreases proportionally.
Examples:
-
A large ship floats: A large ship floats because it is designed to displace a large volume of water. The weight of the water displaced by the ship's hull equals the weight of the ship itself, creating enough upthrust to counteract gravity.
-
Submerging a ball: If you submerge a small portion of a ball in water, the upthrust is small. As you push the ball further in, increasing the submerged volume, the upthrust increases, making it harder to push the ball down.
-
Hot Air Balloons: Hot air balloons utilize upthrust in air. Heating the air inside the balloon decreases its density. This results in the balloon displacing a volume of cooler, denser air outside the balloon. The weight of the cooler air displaced is greater than the weight of the hot air inside the balloon plus the weight of the balloon materials, resulting in a net upward force (upthrust).
Conclusion
In summary, the volume of an object submerged in a fluid has a direct and positive correlation with the upthrust it experiences. A larger submerged volume results in a greater upthrust, and vice-versa, according to Archimedes' Principle.
