When an object is placed in a fluid, it experiences an upward force exerted by the fluid called the buoyant force. This is due to the difference in pressure between the top and bottom surfaces of the object.
If the buoyant force is greater than the object's weight, it will float. If it is less, the object will sink. If the two forces are equal, the object remains suspended in the fluid.
Archimedes’s principle states:
The buoyant force acting on a body submerged in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body.
\[ F_b = \rho \cdot V \cdot g \]
Where:
Apparent weight is the weight of an object when it is submerged in a fluid. It is less than its actual weight because of the upward buoyant force acting on it.
\[ \text{Apparent weight} = \text{Actual weight} - \text{Buoyant force} \]
Written by Pavle Ignjatovic