Question

(a) Define buoyant force. Name two factors on which buoyant force depends.
(b) What is the cause of buoyant force?
(c) When a boat is partially immersed in water, it displaces 600 kg of water. How much is the buoyant force acting on the boat in newtons? (g = 10 m s⁻²)

Answer 1

(a) The upward force exerted by a liquid on a body when immersed in a liquid is known as buoyant force. The buoyant force depends on the following factors:
(i) Size or volume of the body immersed in a liquid.
(ii) The density of the liquid in which the body is immersed.
Buoyant force is exerted by the pressure difference in the surrounding medium caused by gravity.

(b) F (force) = ?
m (mass)= 600 kg
a (acceleration due to gravity) = 10 m/s²

F = m × a
= 600 × 10
= 6,000 N
Ans: Buoyant force acting on a boat = 6,000 N.