Question

While drawing water from a well, we find it easy to lift it while it is immersed in water but it becomes hard when the bucket is out of the water surface. Why does this happen?

• A. Gravity pulls the body down.
• B. Buoyancy pulls the body down.
• C. Buoyancy pushes the body out.
• D. Gravity pushes the body out.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Buoyancy pushes the body out.

When the bucket is immersed in water, there are two forces acting on the bucket: Gravity, which pulls the body down and buoyancy, which pushes the body up. Now when the external force comes into play when pulling the body out of the well, buoyant force aids the pull by pushing it out. This stops when the body comes out of the surface of water and the component of buoyant force has to be compensated with the external force making it harder for the person to pull it out.