Buoyancy primarily depends on the density of the fluid and the volume of the submerged object.
Here's a breakdown of the key factors:
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Density of the Fluid: Buoyancy is directly proportional to the density of the fluid. This means that the denser the fluid, the greater the buoyant force exerted on an object submerged in it. For example, an object will experience a greater buoyant force in saltwater (which is denser) than in freshwater.
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Volume of Displaced Fluid: The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object (Archimedes' Principle). Therefore, the larger the volume of the object submerged in the fluid, the greater the volume of fluid displaced, and the greater the buoyant force. It is the volume submerged and not the volume of the object itself. An object floating only partially submerged will still have a buoyant force equal to the weight of the displaced water.
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Acceleration due to Gravity (g): While often considered constant on Earth, changes in 'g' will also affect buoyancy. The buoyant force depends on the weight of the displaced fluid, and weight is calculated as mass times acceleration due to gravity. A higher 'g' results in a greater weight of the displaced fluid and thus a larger buoyant force. However, because 'g' is virtually constant locally, it's typically not considered a primary factor when comparing buoyancy in everyday scenarios.
It's important to note that buoyancy does not depend on the density of the object itself, although the object's density relative to the fluid's density determines whether the object will float or sink.
