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Question

What are the laws of floatation in a liquid? Give some illustrations


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Solution

Step 1: Laws of floatation

  1. First law states that the weight (W) of an object equals the weight (w) of the liquid displaced by it.It refers to the floating object displaces its own weight of the fluid in which it floats.
  2. The second one states that the centre of gravity of a floating body and the centre of buoyancy lie in the same vertical line

Following are the pointers to remember in floatation:

1.1 If the weight of the object is less than the upthrust, then the object will float on the surface of the fluid.

1.2 If the weight of the object is greater than the upthrust, then the object will sink in the fluid.

1.3 If the weight of the object is equal to the upthrust, then the object is balanced making the object float while some part of it submerged in liquid.

Step 2: Some illustrations

Balloons: The weight of hot air or hydrogen-filled in it is less than the weight of air.Upthrust is greater than its weight.Upward force results in the balloon to rise.

Ships: Ships float in water although it is made of steel and iron which is denser. It floats because the volume of the ship is larger than the volume of material used in it.The average density is less than the density of water as empty space in a ship contains air.


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