When an object is immersed in water, it pushes water aside. The buoyant force of water on the object reduces the weight of the object. In this experiment, you will determine and compare the buoyant force on an object and the weight of the water pushed aside (displaced) by the object for three objects. The Greek mathematician Archimedes first studied this relationship during the third century B.C.
In this experiment, you will
Use a Force Sensor to measure the weights of objects in and out of water.
Determine the buoyant force of water on each object.
Determine the weight of water displaced by each object.
Compare buoyant force to weight of water displaced for each object.
Use the results of the experiment to explain why objects sink or float.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.