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UPTHRUST IN FLUIDS, ARCHIMEDES’
PRINCIPLE AND FLOATATION
Syllabus :
Buoyancy, Archimedes’ principle, floatation, relationship with density; relative density, determination of relative
density of a solid.
Scope : Buoyancy, upthrust (Fp); definition; different cases, F, > = or < weight W of the body immersed;
characteristic properties of upthrust; Archimedes’ principle; explanation of cases where bodies with density
p > = or < the density p’ of the fluid in which it is immersed. R.D. and Archimedes’ principle. Experimental
determinations of R.D. of a solid and liquid denser than water. Floatation; principle of floatation; relation
between the density of a floating body, density of the liquid in which it is floating and the fraction of volume
of the body immersed; (p,/p, = V,/V,); apparent weight of floating object; application to ship, submarine,
iceberg, balloons, etc. Simple numerical problems involving Archimedes’ principle and floatation.

(A) UPTHRUST AND ARCHIMEDES’ PRINCIPLE

5.1 BUOYANCY AND UPTHRUST immersed, our fingers experience some upward force.
When a body is partially or wholly immersed The behaviour of cork is similar to that of the empty can.
in a liquid, an upward force acts on it. This Explanation : When the can or cork is put in
upward force is known as upthrust or buoyant the tub of water, two forces act on it : (i) its weight
force. 1t is denoted by the symbol F,,. Thus (i.e., the force due to gravity) W which pulls it
downwards, and (ii) the upthrust Fy; due to water
The upward force exerted on a body by the fluid in which pushes the can or cork upwards. It floats in
which it is submerged, is called the upthrust or
the position when the two forces become equal in
buoyant force.
magnitude (i.e., W = Fp). Now as the can or cork
The property of liquid to exert an upward is pushed more and more inside water, the upthrust
force on a body immersed in it, is called F exerted by water on it increases and becomes
buoyancy. This property can be demonstrated by maximum (= F ;) when it is completely immersed
the following experiments. in water. So when it is released, the upthrust F' ",
Exp. 1. Pushing an empty can into water : Take an exerted by water on it being greater than its weight
empty can. Close its mouth with an airtight stopper. Put W (or force due to gravity), it rises up. To keep the
it in a tub filled with water. It floats with a large portion can or cork immersed, an external downward force
of it above the surface of water and only a small portion (= Fj — W) is needed to balance the net upward
of it below the surface of water. force.
If we push the can into water, we feel an upward Note : Like liquids, gases also have the
force which opposes the push and we find it difficult to property of buoyancy, i.e., a body immersed (or
push the can further into water. It is also noticed that as
placed) in a gas also experiences an upthrust. All
the can is pushed more and more into water, more and
more force is needed to push the can further into water, objects including ourselves, are also acted upon
till it is completely immersed. When the can is fully by a buoyant force due to air, but we do not feel it
inside water, a constant force is still needed to keep it because it is negligibly small as compared to our
stationary in that position. Now if the can is released at own weight. On the other hand, a balloon filled
this position, it is noticed that the can bounces back to with hydrogen (or any gas less denser than air)
the surface and starts floating again.
rises up because the upthrust (or buoyant force) on
Exp. 2. Pushing a cork into water : If a piece of cork is balloon due to the surrounding air is more than the
placed on the surface of water in a tub, it floats with
weight of balloon filled with the gas.
nearly Zih of its volume inside water. If the cork is Condition for a body to float or sink in
pushed into water and then released, it again comes to a fluid : When a body is immersed in a fluid,
the surface of water and floats. If the cork is kept
two forces act on the body : (i) the weight W of
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the body which acts vertically downwards and (i) Larger the volume of body submerged in a
(ii) the upthrust Fy which acts vertically fluid, greater is the upthrust.
upwards. We have noticed that the upthrust (ii) For same volume inside the fluid more the
depends on the submerged portion of the body. density of fluid, greater is the upthrust.
It increases as the submerged portion of body (iii) The upthrust acts on the body in upward
inside the fluid increases and becomes maximum direction at the centre of buoyancy i.e., the
(= Fj) when the body is completely immersed centre of gravity of the displaced fluid.
inside the fluid. Fig. 5.1 shows a body held
(i) Larger the volume of body submerged in
completely immersed in a fluid with two forces
a fluid, greater is the upthrust
W and F acting on it.
F,, (Max. upthrust) In the experiment of pushing an empty can or
cork into water as described above, it is
experienced that the upthrust on the body due
to water increases as more and more volume of it
is immersed into water, till it is completely
immersed.
Similarly, when a bunch of feathers and a
Fig. 5.1 Forces acting on a body held immersed
pebble of same mass are allowed to fall in air,
inside a liquid
the pebble falls faster than the bunch of feathers.
Depending upon the density of the fluid, the The reason is that upthrust due to air on pebble
maximum buoyant force F can be greater than, is less than that on the bunch of feathers because
equal to or less than the weight W of the given the volume of pebble is less than that of the bunch
body. Whether the body will float or sink in a of feathers of same mass. However in vacuum,
fluid, depends on the relative magnitudes of forces both the bunch of feathers and pebble will fall
W and F (buoyant force when the body is fully together because there will be no upthrust.
immersed). (ii) For same volume inside the fluid more the
@ If F, > Wor F’y = W, the body will float density of fluid, greater is the upthrust
(it will not sink). If F; > W, the body will If we place a piece of cork A into water and
float partly immersed with only that much another identical cork B into glycerine (or mercury),
part of it inside liquid, the upthrust F,; due we notice that the volume of cork B immersed in
to which becomes equal to the weight W of glycerine (or mercury) is smaller as compared to
body (i.e., Fy = W). But if F7y = W, the the volume of cork A immersed in water. The
body will float with whole of it immersed reason is that the density of glycerine (or mercury)
inside the liquid. Thus for a floating body, is more than that of water. Now if we want to
net force acting downwards (i.e., apparent immerse cork B in glycerine to the same extent as
weight) is zero. cork A in water, then an additional force is needed
(i) If F, < W, the body will sink due to the net on cork B, to immerse it to the same level as cork
force (W F) acting on the body downwards. A. This shows that for same volume of a body inside
If m is the mass of body, it will go down into the liquid, a denser liquid exerts a greater upthrust.
the liquid with an acceleration a such that (iii) The upthrust acts on the body in upward
ma=W-Fjor a=(W-Fp)/m. Here we direction at the centre of buoyancy (i.e., the
have ignored the viscous force of the liquid. centre of gravity of the displaced liquid)
Unit of upthrust : The upthrust, being a For a uniform body completely immersed
force, is measured in newton (N) or kgf. inside a liquid, the centre of buoyancy coincides
5.2 CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF with the centre of gravity of the body (Fig. 5.1).
UPTHRUST But if a body floats in a liquid with its part
submerged (Fig. 5.2), the centre of buoyancy B is
The upthrust has the following three
at the centre of gravity of the displaced liquid
characteristic properties :
(i.e., at the centre of gravity of the immersed part
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liquid displaced by the submerged part of the
body.
Proof : Consider a cylindrical body PORS
of cross-sectional area A immersed in a liquid
of density p as shown in Fig. 5.4. Let the upper
surface PQ of body be at a depth h; while its
Fig. 5.2 A body floating with part of it submerged lower surface RS be at a depth h, below the free
surface of liquid.
of the body) which lies below the centre of gravity
G of the entire body. The weight of the body
W acts downwards at G, while upthrust Fy acts
upwards at B such that W= F .
5.3 REASON FOR UPTHRUST
‘We have read that a liquid contained in a vessel
exerts pressure at all points and in all directions.
The pressure at a point in liquid is same in all Fig. 5.4 Calculation for upthrust
directions (upwards, downwards and sideways). It
increases with depth inside the liquid. When a body, At depth k,, pressure on the upper surface PQ
say a block of area of cross section A, is immersed
P, =hpg
inaliquid (Fig. 5.3), the pressure P, exerted upwards
.. Downward thrust on the upper surface PQ
on the lower face of block (which is at a greater
depth) is more than the pressure P, exerted F, = pressure x area = h;pg A (i)
downwards on the upper face of block (which is at At depth h,, pressure on the lower surface RS
alesser depth). Thus there is a difference in pressure P, = h,pg
(= P, - P)) between the lower and upper faces of
.. Upward thrust on the lower surface RS
block. Since force = pressure x area, the difference
in pressures due to liquid on the two faces of F, =hpgA (i)
block causes a net upward force (i.e., upthrust) The horizontal thrust at various points on the
=(P,— P))A on the body. However, the thrust on the vertical sides of body get balanced because liquid
side walls of body get neutralised as they are equal pressure is same at all points at the same depth.
in magnitude and opposite in directions. From above eqns. (i) and (i), it is clear that
F, > F, because h, > h, and therefore, the body
will experience a net upward force.
Resultant upward thrust (or buoyant force)
on the body
Fy = F,-F,
Fig. 5.3 A block immersed in a liquid = hypgA - hypgA
Note : If a lamina (thin sheet) is immersed in a = A(h,~hy) pg
liquid, the pressure on its both surfaces will be But A (hy—h;) =V, the volume of the body
nearly same, so the liquid will exert negligible submerged in liquid.
upthrust on it, causing it to sink into the liquid due | Upthrust Fp=Vpg | ..(5.1)
to its own weight.
5.4 UPTHRUST IS EQUAL TO THE Since a solid when immersed in a liquid,
WEIGHT OF DISPLACED LIQUID displaces liquid equal to the volume of its
(Mathematical proof) submerged part, therefore
‘When a body is immersed in a liquid, upthrust Vpg = Volume of solid immersed x density of
on it due to liquid is equal to the weight of the liquid x acceleration due to gravity.
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or Vpg = Volume of liquid displaced x density 5.5 ARCHIMEDES’ PRINCIPLE
of liquid x acceleration due to gravity. When a body is immersed in a liquid, it
= mass of liquid displaced x acceleration occupies the space, which was earlier occupied by
due to gravity. the liquid i.e., it displaces the liquid. The volume
= Weight of the liquid displaced by the of liquid displaced by the body is equal to the
submerged part of the body. volume of the submerged part of the body so the
body experiences an upthrust equal to the weight
of the liquid displaced by it.
" _
It is the upthrust due to which a body
..(5.2) immersed in a liquid appears to be of weight
Note : (1) If the body is completely immersed less than its real weight. The apparent loss in
in a liquid, the volume of liquid displaced will be weight is equal to the upthrust on the body. This
equal to its own volume and upthrust then will be is called the Archimedes’ principle. Thus
maximum (= Fp).
(2) Although the above result is derived for a
cylindrical body, but it is equally true for a body of
any shape and size.
Factors affecting the upthrust This principle applies not only to liquids, but
From the above discussion, it is clear that it applies equally well to-gases also.
the magnitude of upthrust on a body due to a
5.6 EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION OF
liquid (or fluid) depends on the following two ARCHIMEDES’ PRINCIPLE
factors : Archimedes’ principle can be verified by
(i) volume of the body submerged in liquid (or
either of the following experiments.
fluid), and
Expt. (1) : Take two
(ii) density of the liquid (or fluid) in which the cylinders A and B of the
body is submerged. same volume. The cylinder A
Effect of upthrust : The effect of upthrust is is solid and the cylinder B
is hollow. Suspend the two
that the weight of body immersed in a liquid
cylinders from the left
appears to be less than its actual weight. This
arm of a physical balance
can be demonstrated by the following experiment. keeping the solid cylinder A
Experiment : Lifting of a bucket full of water from a below the hollow cylinder B.
well. Take an empty bucket and tie a long rope to it. If the Then balance the beam by
bucket is immersed in water of a well keeping one end of keeping weights on right
rope in hand and the bucket is pulled when it is deep inside arm of the balance. In this
‘water, we notice that it is easy to pull the bucket as long as situation, both cylinders A
it is inside water, but as soon it starts coming out of the and B are in air.
water surface, it appears to become heavy and now more The solid cylinder A is
force is needed to lift it. now completely immersed Fig. 5.5 Verification of
This experiment shows that the bucket of water into water contained in a Archimedes’ principle
appears lighter when it is immersed in water than its actual beaker D placed on a bench
weight (in air). C as shown in Fig. 5.5, taking care that the cylinderA does
not touch the sides and bottom of the beaker. It is observed
Similarly, when pulling a fish out of water, that the solid cylinder A loses weight i.e., the left arm of
it appears lighter inside water as compared to the balance rises up. Obviously the loss in weight is due to
when it is out of water. upthrust (or buoyant force) of water on the cylinder A.
Now pour water gently in the hollow cylinderB till it is
Similarly, a body weighed by a sensitive spring
completely filled. It is observed that the beam balances again.
balance, will weigh slightly less in air than in
vacuum due to upthrust of air on the body.
Thus, it is clear that the buoyant force acting
on solid cylinder A is equal to the weight of water
T e 10] R AT T PN Ak L
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filled in the hollow cylinder B. Since the cylinders equal to the loss in weight of the solid. This verifies
A and B both have equal volume, so the weight of Archimedes’ principle.
water in the hollow cylinder B is just equal to the
5.7 SOLID BODIES WITH DENSITY (p)
weight of water displaced by the cylinderA. Hence
GREATER THAN DENSITY OF
the buoyant force acting on the cylinderA is equal
LIQUID (p,) SINK WHILE WITH
to the weight of water displaced by it. Thus, it
DENSITY (p) LESS THAN DENSITY OF
verifies the Archimedes’ principle.
LIQUID (p,) FLOAT
Expt. (2) : Take a solid (say, a metallic piece). Suspend
it by a thin thread from the hook of a spring balance Let a body of volume V and density p be
[Fig. 5.6(a)]. Note its weight. immersed completely in a liquid of density p,.
The weight of the body acting downwards will
be W = Vpg and the maximum upthrust on the
body acting upwards will be F = Vp,g.
Following three cases may arise :
@) If W> F7or Vpg > Vp,g or p > p,, the
body will sink due to net force (W — F7) acting
downwards.
(i) If W=Fjor Vpg=Vpgorp=p,
the body will float and the net force on the body
is zero.
(iii) If W < F or Vpg < Vp,g or p < p,,
the body will float due to net force (F;— W)
acting upwards and only that much volume v of
MEASURING CYLINDER the body will submerg inside the liquid due to
Fig. 5.6 Verification of Archimedes’ principle which upthrust F; (= vp,g) balances the weight
W. The net force on the body is zero in this
Now take a eureka can and fill it with water up to its situation also.
spout. Arrange a measuring cylinder below the spout of
the eureka can. Thus a body of density p sinks in a liquid
of density p, if p > p,, while it floats if p = p,
Now immerse the solid gently into water of the eureka
can. The water displaced by it gets collected in the
or p < p,. This can be demonstrated by the
measuring cylinder [Fig. 5.6 (b)]. When water stops following experiments.
dripping through the spout, note the weight of the solid Expt. (1) : Take an iron nail and a piece of
and the volume of water collected in the measuring cork both of same mass. First place the iron nail
cylinder.
on the surface of water contained in a cup. The
In Fig. 5.6, the solid weighs 300 gf in air and nail sinks. It implies that the force of gravity (or
200 gf when it is completely immersed in water. weight) on iron nail pulling it downwards is
The volume of water collected in the measuring greater than the upthrust of water on nail pushing
cylinder is 100 ml i.e., 100 cm?. it upwards. Now place the piece of cork on the
Loss in weight = 300 gf - 200 gf =100 gf ....(i) surface of water. The cork floats. It means that
Volume of water displaced = Volume of solid upthrust on cork, when fully immersed is more
=100 cm®
than that on nail because the density of water is
more than the density of cork, while the density
Since density of water = 1 gcm™
of tvater is less than that of iron nail.
*. Weight of water displaced = 100 gf .. i)
Expt. (2) : Take few solid bodies of different
From eqpns. (i) and (i)
materials of known density and place them on
Weight of water displaced = Upthrustor loss in weight.
the surface of water. It is observed that if the
Thus the weight of water displaced by solid is
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density of the material of the body is equal to or upthrust due to water on body is less than its
less than the density of water (i.e., p = p,, or
p < p,), it floats, implying that the upthrust on
body due to its submerged part is equal to its
own weight (i.e., Fy = W). Different bodies float
on water with their different volumes inside
water. If p = p,, the body floats with whole of its
volume inside water, while if p < p, the body An empty tin can (or iron ship) floats on
floats with only that much volume inside water water because its average density* is less than
by which the upthrust F; on body balances its the density of water.
weight W. On the other hand, if the density of the * The average density of a hollow body is the ratio of
material of body is more than the density of mass of the body (= mass of material of body + mass of
water (i.e., p > p,), the body sinks, because the air enclosed) to its total volume.

1. A body weighs 200 gf in air and 190

gf when (ii) m, represents the mass of water displaced by
completely immersed in water. Calculate : stone.
(i) the loss in weight of the body in water, (iiii) Net force acting on stone = F, — F, (downwards).
(iv) Given: V=80cm? p=1gem>,g=10ms2,
(i) the upthrust on the body.
Given : Weight of the body in air = 200 gf m=200g=
29 kg=02kg
Weight of the body in water = 190 gf weight of stone F; =mg =02kgx 10ms2=2N
@) Lossinweightof the body = 200 gf — 190gf Mass of water displaced m; = Vp=80x1=80g
=10gf 80
= 7000 ke =008ke
(i) Upthrust on the body = loss in weight
=10 gf. upthrust kg x 10 ms2 =08 N
F, =m;g =008
Hence net downward force on stone
2. A small stone of mass m (= 200 g) is held
el
B

under water in a tall jar and is allowed to

|
I

fall as shown in Fig. 5.7. The forces acting

on stone are also shown.

3. A piece of iron of density 7-8 x 10° kg m™

and ‘volume 100 cm? is completely immersed
in water (p = 1000 kg m™). Calculate :
(i) the weight of iron piece in air, (i) the
upthrust, and (iii) its apparent weight in
water. (g = 10 m s2)
Fig. 5.7
Given : Volume of iron piece = 100 cm?
(i) What does F, represent ?
=100 x 104 m* = 10 m*
(ii) What does m, represent ?
(i) Weight of iron piece in air
(iii) What is the net force acting on stone ?
= Volume x density of iron
x g
(iv) What is the acceleration of stone as it
=10* x (78 x 103 x 10
falls through water ? Neglect the force
due to viscosity. Assume that the volume =78N
of stone = 80 cm?, density of water (i) Upthrust = (Volume of water displaced) x density
= 1:0 g cm™ and acceleration due to of water x g
gravity g = 10 m s But volume of water displaced = volume of iron
piece when it is completely immersed = 10 m*
(i) F, represents the upthrust on stone due to
‘water.
Upthrust =10 x 1000 x 10=1N
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(iii) Apparent weight = True weight — Upthrust 5e A solid of density p has weight W. Show that
=78-1=68N. its apparent weight will be W1 - (p,/p)]
when it is completely immersed in a liquid
4. A metal cube of side 5 cm and density
79 g cm™ is suspended by a thread and is
of density p,.
immersed completely in a liquid of density Given, weight of solid =W
11 g em™>. Find : (a) the weight of cube, . Mass of solid = W/g
(b) the upthrust on cube and (c) the tension
Mass
Volume of solid = Density =_ %
in thread.
(a) Given, side of cube = 5 cm Volume of liquid displaced = Volume of solid
+. Volume of the cube =5 x 5 x § = 125 cm®
Mass of the cube = Volume x density
weP
=125cm® x 79 g cm™ Upthrust on solid = Volume of liquid displaced
=9875g X density of liquid
.. Weight of the cube = 987-5 gf (downwards) x acceleration due to gravity
(b) Upthrust on cube= Weight of liquid displaced Wig w
= Volume of cube x density of liquid x g or upthrust = T Xp, xg= 3 xp,
=125x 1-1 x g = 137-5 gf (upwards)

o[22
.. Apparent weight = True weight — upthrust
(c) Tension in thread = Net downward force
= Weight of cube — Upthrust on cube
= 987-5 - 137-5 = 850-0 gf.
Hence proved.

‘What do you understand by the term upthrust of a How is the upthrust related to the volume of the
fluid ? Describe an experiment to show its existence. body submerged in a liquid ?
In what direction and at what point does the Abunch of feathers and a stone of the same mass are
buoyant force on a body due to a liquid, act ? released simultaneously in air. Which will fall faster
Ans. Upwards, at the centre of buoyancy. and why ? How will your observation be different if
‘What is meant by the term buoyancy ? they are released simultaneously in vacuum ?
Define upthrust and state its S.I. unit. A body experiences an upthrust F, in river
water and F, in sea water when dipped up to the
‘What is the cause of upthrust ? At which point it
same level. Which is more F, or F, ? Give reason.
can be considered to act ?
Ans. F, > F,. Reason : Sea water is
Why is a force needed to keep a block of wood
denser than river water.
inside water ?
Ans. Upthrust due to water on block when A small block of wood is held completely
fully submerged is more than its weight. immersed in (i) water, (ii) glycerine and then
released. In each case, what do you observe ?
A piece of wood if left under water, comes to the Explain the difference in your observation in the
surface. Explain the reason. two cases.
Describe an experiment to show that a body immersed 16. A body of volume V and density p is kept
in a liquid appears lighter than it really is. completely immersed in a liquid of density p,. If
A metal solid cylinder tied to a thread is hanging g is the acceleration due to gravity, write
from the hook of a spring balance. The cylinder is expressions for the following :
gradually immersed into water contained in a jar. (i) the weight of the body,
‘What changes do you expect in the readings of (ii) the upthrust on the body,
spring balance ? Explain your answer. (iii) the apparent weight of the body in liquid,
Will a body weigh more in air or in vacuum when (iv) the loss in weight of the body.
weighed with a spring balance ? Give a reason for Ans. (i) Vpg (i) Vp,e (i) V(p - p g (iv) Vg
your answer. 1% A body held completely immersed inside a liquid
A body dipped into a liquid experiences an experiences two forces : (i) F,, the force due to
upthrust. State two factors on which upthrust on gravity and (i) F,, the bucyant force. Draw a
the body depends. diagram showing the direction of these forces

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acting on the body and state condition when the 2. The S.I unit of upthrust is :
body will float or sink. (a) Pa (b) N
18. Complete the following sentences : () kg (d) kgm?
(a) Two balls, one of iron and the other of Ans. (b)) N
aluminium cxperience the same upthrust when 3. A body of density p sinks in a liquid of
dipped completely in water if density p;. The densities p and p, are related as :
®) An empty tin container with its mouth closed has
@ p=p, ®) p<p,
an average density equal to that of a liquid. The
container is taken 2 m below the surface of that ©) p>p, (d) nothing can be said.
Ans. (©) p>p,
liquid and is left there. Then the container will
Numericals :
A piece of wood is held under water. The 1. A body of volume 100 cm® weighs 5 kgf in air.
upthrust on it will be the weight It is completely immersed in a liquid of density
of the wood piece. 1-8 x 10° kg m™. Find : (i) the upthrust due to
Ans. (a) both have equal volume liquid and (ii) the weight of the body in liquid.
(b) will remains at the same position (c) more than.
Ans. (i) 0-18 kgf (i) 4-82 kgf
19. Prove that the loss in weight of a body when
2. A body weighs 450 gf in air and 310 gf when
immersed wholly or partially in a liquid is equal
completely immersed in water. Find :
to the buoyant force (or upthrust) and this loss is
(i) the volume of the body,
because of the difference in pressure exerted by
(ii) the loss in weight of the body, and
liquid on the upper and lower surfaces of the
(iii) the upthrust on the body.
submerged part of body.
State the assumption made in part (i).
20. A sphere of iron and another of wood of the same
Ans. (i) 140 cm® (ii) 140 gf (iii) 140 gf
radius are held under water. Compare the upthrust
Assumption : density of water = 1-0 g cm™.
on the two spheres.
[Hint : Both have equal volume inside water.]
3. Youare provided with a hollow iron ball A of volume
15 cm? and mass 12 g and a solid iron ball B of mass
Ans.1:1
12 g. Both are placed on the surface of water
21. A sphere of iron and another of wood, both of contained in a large tub. (a) Find upthrust on each
same radius are placed on the surface of water. ball. (b) Which ball will sink ? Give reason for your
State which of the two will sink ? Give reason to answer. (Density of iron = 8:0 g cm™)
your answer. Ans. Sphere of iron will sink. Ans. (a) Upthrust on ball A = 12 gf and
Reason : p; = > p,.... so weight of iron on ball B = 1-5 gf. (b) The ball B will sink.
sphere will be more than upthrust due to water Reason : Volume of ball B = 12/80 = 1.5 cm?.
on it. But p oy < Py SO sphere of wood will Upthrust on ball B is 1-5 gf which is less than its
float with its that much volume submerged weight 12 gf, while upthrust on ball A will be 15 gf if
inside water by which upthrust due to water on it is fully submerged, which is greater than its
it balances its weight. weight 12 gf, so it will float with its that much part
22. How does the density of material of a body submerged for which upthrust becomes equal to
determine whether it will float or sink in water ? its weight (=12 gf).
23. A body of density p is immersed in a liquid 4. A solid of density 5000 kg m™ weighs 0-5 kgf in
of density p;. State condition when the body will air. It is completely immersed in water of density
(i) float, (ii) sink, in liquid. 1000 kg m~. Calculate the apparent weight of the
Ans. (i) p < or=p, (ii) p>p, solid in water. Ans. 04 kef
24. Ttis easier to lift a heavy stone under water than in 5. Two spheres A and B, each of volume 100 cm®
air. Explain. are placed on water (density = 1-0 g cm™). The
25. State Archimedes’ principle. sphere A is made of wood of density 0-3 g cm™ and
26. Describe an experiment to verify the Archimedes’ the sphere B is made of iron of density 8-9 g cm™.
principle. (a) Find: (i) the weight of each sphere, and (ii) the
Multiple choice type : upthrust on each sphere.
(b) Which sphere will float ? Give reason.
1. A body will experience minimum upthrust when it
Ans. (a) (i) A - 30 gf, B - 890 gf
is completely immersed in : (ii) A - 30 gf, B - 100gf
(a) turpentine (b) water (b) The sphere A will float
(c) glycerine (d) mercury. Reason : The density of wood is less than the
Ans. (a) turpentine density of water.
e S 105 T
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6. The mass of a block made of a certain material is 8. A metal cube of edge 5 cm and density 90 g cm™
13-5kg and its volume is 15 x 10-3 m?, is suspended by a thread so as to be completely
(a) Calculate upthrust on the block if it is held fully immersed in a liquid of density 12 g cm™. Find
immersed in water. the tension in thread. (Take g = 10 m s72)
() Will the block float or sink in water when [Hint: Tension in thread = Apparent weight of the
released ? Give reason for your answer. cube in liquid] Ans. 975 N

(©) ‘What will be the upthrust on block while floating? 9. A block of wood is floating on water with its
Take density of water = 1000 kg m~3. dimensions 50 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm inside water.
Ans. (a) 15 kgf. (b) The block will float since upthrust Calculate the buoyant force acting on the block.
on it when fully immersed in water, is more than Take
g = 98 N kg™ Ans. 1225 N
its weight. (c) While floating, upthrust = 13-5 kgf. 10. A body of mass 3-5 kg displaces 1000 cm® of water
7. A piece of brass weighs 175 gf in air and 150 gf when fully immersed inside it. Calculate : (i) the
when fully immersed in water. The density of water volume of body, (ii) the upthrust on body and
is 1:0 g em. (i) What is the volume of the brass (iii) the apparent weight of body in water.
piece ? (ii) Why does the brass piece weigh less in Ans. (i) 1000 cm® (ii) 1 kef (iii) 2-5 kgf
water ? Ans. (i) 25 cm® (i) due to upthrust.

(B) RELATIVE DENSITY AND ITS MEASUREMENT

BY ARCHIMEDES’ PRINCIPLE

5.8 DENSITY It is a scalar quantity and is represented by

If equal volumes of different substances such the letter p (rho) or d.
as wood, iron, zinc, water, glycerine, mercury If mass of a substance is M and its volume
etc., are weighed by a physical balance, we find is V, its density is
that their masses are different. The mass of iron
is much more than the mass of an equal volume
of wood. This is because the particles of iron are Unit of density
heavier and more closely packed than those of
3 g Unit of mass
wood. In other words, iron is denser than wood. Unit of density = Ukt of vols
In a similar manner, if we take equal masses of
In S.I. system, unit of mass is kg and
cotton and lead (say, one kg each), we notice that
unit of volume is m?, so S.I unit of density is
their volumes are different. The volume of cotton
kg m™. In C.GS. system, unit of mass is g and
is much larger than the volume of an equal mass
unit of volume is cm?, so C.G.S. unit of density
of lead. This is because the particles of lead are is g cm™ (or gram per cubic centimetre).
closely packed, while those of cotton are very
Relationship between S.I. and C.GS. units
loose. In other words, lead is denser than cotton.
Thus to explain that equal volumes of different
il lkg _1000g
substances have different masses or equal masses Lkgm = (100em)®
of different substances have different volumes, i L -
we use a term called density. It is defined as = 1000 8™
Thus
follows :

_ """ G
Example : The mass of 1 cm? of ilron is
7-8 g, hence the density of iron is 7-8 g cm™ or
7800 kg m3. Different substances have different
densities.
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Effect of temperature on density a substance from its density (or density from its
Most of the substances expand on heating and relative density), we note that
contract on cooling, but their mass remains (i) In C.GS. system, density of water at 4°C
unchanged. Therefore, density of most of the is 1 g cm™, so the relative density of a
substances decreases with the increase in temperature substance is equal to the numerical value
and increases with the decrease in temperature.
of density of that substance. Thus
Exception : The behaviour of water is Density of substance in g cm™
however very different due to its uneven e 10gem™
expansion. Water when cooled from a high
temperature, contracts up to 4°C thereafter it or Density in g cm™ = R.D. 1))
expands below 4°C up to 0°C. Thus the density
of water gradually increases when it is cooled up (ii) In S.I. system, density of water at 4°C is
to 4°C, and then starts decreasing when it is 1000 kg m3, so its relative density is
cooled further below 4°C up to 0°C. Thus, Density of substance in kg m™>
RD. = .
The density of water is maximum at 4°C, 1000 kgm™
equal to 1 g cm™ or 1000 kg m=. or | Density in kg m™ = (R.D.) x 1000 | ....(5.8)
59 RELATIVE DENSITY Examples :

[RD. = £ = 2 FOR SAME VOLUME] (i) The density of copper is 8-9 g cm™, its
w w R.D.is 89.
We have read that density of water at 4°C is (i) The density of mercury is 13-6 x 10° kg m™,
1 g em™ (or 1000 kg m). Treating it as a its R.D. is 13-6.
standard, the density of a substance can be (iii) The R.D. of silver is 10-8, its density in
compared with the density of water at 4°C and C.GS. unit is 10-8 g cm™ and in S.L unit is
the ratio so obtained is termed as the relative 108 x 10° kg m™,
density of that substance. Thus, Difference between density and relative density
Density Relative density
The relative density (R.D.) of a substance is
the ratio of the density of that substance to 1. Density of a substance | 1.Relative density of a
the density of water at 4°C. is the mass per unit substance
is the ratio of
volume of that density of that substance
: Density of substance (pg) substance. to the density of water
ie,RDi=r—rr e at 4°C.
Density of water at 4°C (py,)
2.Tt is expressed in 2.1t has no unit.
Mass of unit volume of substance g em™ or kg m™.
" Mass of unit volume of water at 4°C
Density and R.D. of some common substances
Mass of substance (m 1)
Density Relative
= Massof an equal volume of water at4°C (m,,) Substance gm?® T Henstty
.2I6:6)
Thus, Cork 240 024 024
‘Wood (pine) 500 - 0-50 0-50
Relative density of a substanceis also defined Petrol 800 0-80 0-80
Turpentine 870 0-87 0-87
as the ratio of the mass of substance to the
Ice 920 092 0-92
mass of an equal volume of water at 4°C. Olive oil 920 092 0-92
Pure water 1000 1.00 ik
Unit of relative density : Since relative (at 4°C)
density is a pure ratio, it has no unit. It is a Sea water 1025 1.02 1.02
scalar quantity. Glycerine 1260 126 126
Relationship between density and relative Glass 2500 25 25
Aluminium 2700 270 270
density : While calculating the relative density of
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(i) R.D. of a solid denser than water and
insoluble in it
Procedure :
(i) Suspend a piece of the given solid with a
thread from hook of the left pan of a physical
balance and find its weight W,.
5.10 DETERMINATION OF RELATIVE (ii) Now place a wooden bridge over the left
DENSITY OF A SOLID SUBSTANCE pan of balance and place a beaker nearly two-
BY ARCHIMEDES' PRINCIPLE third filled with water on the bridge. Take care
‘We know that that the bridge and beaker do not touch the pan
Mass of the body of balance.
RD.=
Mass of water (at 4°C) of volume equal (iii) Immerse the solid completely in water
to thatof the body
such that it does not touch the walls and bottom
Using Archimedes' principle, the mass of of beaker (Fig. 5.8) and find the weight W, of
water of volume equal to that of the body is
solid in water.
obtained by finding the mass of water displaced
by that body when it is completely immersed in wir =
water since a body when immersed in water,
displaces water equal to its own volume.
Therefore,
Mass of body
RD. =
Mass of water displaced by the body WATER
Weight of body
|—WOODEN
Weight of water displaced by the body i é BRIDGE
L Weight of body
~ Lossin weightof the body in water (or upthrust)
Fig. 5.8 R.D. of a solid denser than water
Observations :
Weight of solid in air = W, gf
0r—
Weight of solid in water = W, gf
.(59)
Calculations :
Thus, to find relative density of a solid body
Loss in weight of solid when immersed in
using Archimedes' principle, we have to weigh
water = (W, - W,) gf
the body first in air and then in water. If the
weight of body in air is W, and in water is Weight of solidin air
W,, then RD. =
Loss in weight of solidin water

(5.11)
- PR
(i) R.D. of a solid denser than water and soluble
Note : Weight and mass are related as weight = mass init
x acceleration due to gravity (i.e., W = Mg). On weighing Procedure : If solid is soluble in water, instead of
a body with a physical balance, its mass is expressed in water, we take a liquid of known relative density in
kg or g, while its weight is expressed in kgf or gf. which solid is insoluble and it sinks in that liquid. Then
Now we shall describe the procedure to the process described above is repeated. Now
determine the relative density of a solid in two
cases : (i) when the solid is denser than water
and insoluble in it and (ii) when the solid is
denser than water and soluble in it. (5.12)
T
T 18
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5.11 DETERMINATION OF RELATIVE Weightof thebodyin air— weightof thebodyin liquid
DENSITY OF A LIQUID BY = Weightof thebodyin air — weightof thebodyin water
ARCHMEDES’ PRINCIPLE ..(5.14)
By definition, relative density of a liquid is Thus to find the relative density of a liquid
given as : using Archimedes’ principle, we take a body
which is heavier than both the given liquid and
RD. ‘Weight of a given volumeof theliquid
..(5.13) water and also insoluble in both. The body is
""" Weightof thesame volumeof water
first weighed in air, then in liquid and then after
By Archimedes’ principle if a solid is washing it with water and drying, it is weighed
immersed in a liquid or water, it displaces the in water. If the weight of the body in air is
liquid or water equal to its own volume. W, gf, in liquid is W, gf and in water is W, gf,
Therefore the above eqn. (5.13) takes the form : then from eqn. (5.14)

‘Weight of liquid displacedby a body . (5.15)

RD
*~ Weightof water displaced by the same body

1. Relative density of silver is 10-5. What is the Given, weight of solid in air W, = 30 gf and weight
density of silver in S.I. unit ? What of solid in liquid W, = 26 gf., R.D. of liquid = 0-8
assumption do you make in your calculations. : Density of liquid = 0-8 g cm™
Given, R.D. of silver = 10-5 (i) Let V be the volume of solid.
_ Density of silver Weight of liquid displaced = Volume of liquid displaced
RD. = Density of water x density of liquid x g
Density of silver = R.D x density of water =V x 038 x g dyne
=105 x 10° kg m=. =Vx08gf @)
Loss in weight of the solid when immersed in liquid
Assumption : Density of water = 10° kg m™.
- =W,-W,=30-26=4gf .G
2. A solid weighs 50 gf in air and 44 gf when But the weight of liquid displaced is equal to the
completely immersed in water. Calculate : loss in weight of solid when immersed in liquid.
(i) the upthrust, .. From eqns. (i) and (ii),
(ii) the volume of the solid, and
' V x08 =4
(iii) the relative density of the solid.
Given, weight of solid in air W, = 50 gf and weight or V= iy
T ha 5cm 3
of solid in water W, = 44 gf.
(ii) Given, weight of solid = 30 gf
(i) Upthrust = loss in weight when immersed in
water = W, - W, = 50 - 44 = 6 gf Mass of solid =30 g
(ii) Weight of water displaced = upthrust = 6 gf Mass 30
Density of solid =
Since density of water is 1 g cm™, therefore
volume of water displaced = 6 cm® Hence relative density of solid = 6
But a solid displaces water equal to its own
Alternative method
volume, therefore volume of solid = 6 cm®.
(i) Volume of solid = Volume of liquid displaced
Weight of solidin air
= mass of liquid displaced / density of liquid
(i) RD. of solid = e e Weightin water
=(30-26)/08
=5 cm’.
(i) R.D. of solid
3. A solid weighs 30 gf in air and 26 gf when Weight of solid in air
X RD.
of liquid
completely immersed in a liquid of relative = 'Weight of solid in air — weight of solid in liquid
density 0-8. Find : (i) the volume of solid, and Ay =150 x08=3) x08=6
(ii) the relative density of solid. T 30-26

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4. A solid body weighs 2-10 N in air. Its relative 2:1
or 84= 2-1-x
x 12
density is 8-4. How much will the body weigh
7-2
if placed or 4@21-0=12 or x=— =18N
(i) in water,
(ii) in a liquid of relative density 1-2 ? A body weighs 82-1 gf in air, 755 gf in water
and 73-8 gf in a liquid. (a) Find the relative
(i) Given : Weight of the body in air W, = 2-10 N, density of the liquid. (b) How much will it
RD. of body = 84, weight of body in water W, =? weigh if immersed in a liquid of relative
W 21 density 0-87 ?
RD. = f 84=
W - W, 21-W, (@) Given, weight of the body in air W, = 82-1 gf
or 84 (21 - W) =211 Weight of the body in liquid = W, = 73-8 gf
2:1x7-4 Weight of the body in water W, = 755 gf
or = 84 = 185N
Thus weight of body in water = 1-85 N (=i Wi-W,
R.D. of liquid = Wi,
(ii) Upthrust due to water = W, — W, = 2-10 - 1.85
821-738
=025N = T m o83 o126
821-755 66
Upthrust due to liquid
®) Given, R.D. of liquid = 087, W, = 821 gf,
= Upthrust due to water x R.D. of liquid W, =2, W, =755 gf
=025x12=030N
. RD. vVl_WZ
Weight of body in liquid = Weight of body From relation R.D. = ——W,—W3
in air — Upthrust due to liquid
=210-030=18N. 057 = 821-Wo.
821-755
Alternative method :
or 82:1- W, = 087 x 6:6 = 5742
Let weight of body in liquid be x N. Then R.D.
Weight of bodyin air W, = 821 - 5742 = 76358
= xR.D.of liquid
Weight of body in air — Weight of body in liquid ORI = 764 gf

Define the term density. Complete the following sentences :

2. What are the units of density in (i) C.GS. and (i) Mass = ........ X density
(ii) S.L system. Ans. (i) g cm (ii) kg m™ (ii) S.I unit of density is
3. Express the relationship between the C.GS. and (iii) Density of water is ... kg m™.
S.I. units of density.
(iv) Density in kg m™ = ... x density in g cm™
Ans. 1 g em™ = 1000 kg m
Ans. (i) volume, (i) kg m™, (iii) 1000, (iv) 1000
4. 'The density of iron is 7800 kg m™'. What do you What do you understand by the term relative
understand by this statement ?
density of a substance ?
5. Write the density of water at 4°C in S.I unit. ‘What is the unit of relative density ?
Ans. 1000 kg m™ Ans. No unit
6. How are the (i) mass, (i) volume, and (iii) density 11. Differentiate between density and relative density
of a metallic piece affected, if at all, with increase of a substance.
in temperature ? 12. With the use of Archimedes’ principle, state how
Ans. (i) unchanged, (ii) increases, (iii) decreases. you will find relative density of a solid denser than
7. Water is heated from 0°C to 10°C. How does the water and insoluble in it. How will you modify
density of water change with temperature ? your experiment if the solid is soluble in water ?
Ans. On heating from 0°C, the density of water 13, A body weighs W gf in air and W, gf when it is
increases up to 4°C and then decreases beyond 4°C. completely immersed in water. Find : (i) volume

Y 110 N BTy

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of the body, (ii) upthrust on the body, (iii) relative 8. A body of volume 100 cm® weighs 1 kgf in air.
density of material of the body. Find : (i) its weight in water and (ii) its relative

Ans. §) (W =Wy e i) OW— W) gf i) 32 density.

Ans. (i) 900 gf, (ii) 10
14. Describe an experiment, using Archimedes’ A body of mass 70 kg, when completely immersed
principle, to find relative density of a liquid. in water, displaces 20,000 cm® of water. Find :
18, A body weighs W, gf in air and when immersed (i) the weight of body in water and (ii) the relative
in a liquid it weighs W, gf, while it weighs W, gf density of material of body.
on immersing it in water. Find : (i) volume of the Ans. (i) 50 kgf, (ii) 3-5
body (ii) upthrust due to liquid (iii) relative density A solid weighs 120 gf in air and and 105 gf when
of the solid and (iv) relative density of the liquid. it is completely immersed in water. Calculate the
Ans. (i) (W, — W,) em?, i) (W, = W,) gf, relative density of solid.
W W -W, Ans. 8
(iii)
W -W, . W -W; 11. A solid weighs 32 gf in air and 28-8 gf in water.
Multiple choice type : Find : (i) the volume of solid, (i) R.D. of solid,
) Relative density of a substance is expressed by and (iii) the weight of solid in a liquid of density
comparing the density of that substance with the 09 g cm™.
density of : Ans. (i) 3-2 cm?, (i) 10, (jii) 29-12 gf
(a) air (b) mercury A body weighs 20 gf in air and 180 gf in water.
(c) water (d) iron. Calculate relative density of the material of body.
Ans. (c) water Ans. 10
The unit of relative density is : A solid weighs 1-5 kgf in air and 0-9 kgf in a
(a) gem™ (b) kgm™ liquid of density 1-2 x 10° kg m. Calculate R.D.
(c) mkg! (d) no unit. of solid. Ans. 3.0
Ans. (d) no unit A jeweller claims that he makes ornament of pure
3 The density of water is : gold of relative density 19-3. He sells a bangle
(@ 1000gem® (b)) 1kgm3 weighing 25-25 gf to a person. The clever customer
(c) 1gem™ (d) none of these. weighs the bangle when immersed in water and
Ans. (c) 1 gem™ finds that it weighs 23-075 gf in water. With the
Numericals : help of suitable calculations find out whether the
ornament is made of pure gold or not.
1. The density of copper is 8-83 g cm™. Express it
in kg m. Ans. 8830 kg m - [Hint : Calculate R.D. of material of bangle which
comes out to be 11-6]. e
The relative density of mercury is 13-6. State its
Ans. Gold is not pure.
density in (i) C.GS. unit, (i) S.I unit.
Ans. (i) 13-6 g cm™ (i) 136 x 10° kg m™ 15. A piece of iron weighs 44-5 gf in air. If the density
of iron is 8:9 x 10° kg m™, find the weight of
The density of iron is 7-8 x 10° kg m™. What is iron piece when immersed in water.
its relative density ? Ans. 7-8 Ans. 395 gm
‘The relative density of silver is 10-8. Find its density. A piece of stone of mass 15-1 g is first immersed
Ans. 108 x 10° kg m™ in a liquid and it weighs 10-9 gf. Then on
immersing the piece of stone in water, it weighs
Calculate the mass of a body whose volume is 2 m® 97 gf. Calculate :
and relative density is 0-52. Ans. 1040 kg (a) the weight of the piece of stone in air,
Calculate the mass of air in a room of dimensions (b) the volume of the piece of stone,
45 m x 35 m x 2:5 m if the density of air at
(c) the relative density of stone,
N.TP is 13 kg m™. Ans. 5119 kg
(d) the relative density of the liquid.
A piece of stone of mass 113 g sinks to the bottom
in water contained in a measuring cylinder Ans. (a) 151 gf, (b) 54 cm®,
and water level in cylinder rises from 30 ml to d (c) 2:8, (d) 078
40 ml. Calculate R.D. of stone. Ans. 113

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(C) FLOATATION

5.12 PRINCIPLE OF FLOATATION as measured by a spring balance if it is attached

We have read that when a body is immersed with the body will be (W — F7) acting vertically
in a liquid, the following wo forces act on it : downwards. This is the case when the density p
(i) The weight W of body acting vertically of solid is greater than the density p, of liquid
downwards, through the centre of gravity G (i.e, p>pp).
of the body. This force has a tendency to sink
the body.
(ii) The upthrust F, of the liquid acting vertically
upwards, through the centre of buoyancy B
i.e., the centre of gravity of the displaced
liquid. The upthrust (or buoyant force) is equal
in magnitude to the weight of the liquid Fig. 5.10 The body sinks when W > F'y
displaced. This force has a tendency to make
Case (i) : When W = Fy i.., the weight
the body float.
of the body is equal to the weight of the
Fig. 5.9 shows the two forces W and F, acting displaced liquid. In this case, the body will float
on a body floating on a liquid. just below the surface of liquid as shown in
Fig. 5.11. The apparent weight of body will be
zero. The density p of such a body is equal to
the density p; of liquid (i.e., p = p).

Fig. 5.9 Two forces acting on a floating body

Fig. 5.11 The body floats when W =F7p

Case (iii) : When W < F; ie., the weight

of the body is less than the weight of the liquid
displaced by it when it is held completely
immersed in the liquid. In this case, the body
Obviously, the upthrust Fy is maximum
floats partially above and partially below the
(=F’y) when the body is completely immersed
inside the liquid. surface of liquid as shown in Fig. 5.12. Only that
much portion of the body gets submerged by
Depending upon whether the maximum which the weight of displaced liquid becomes
upthrust F”y is less than, equal to or greater than equal to the weight of the body. In this situation,
the weight W, the body will either sink or float
in liquid. So we consider the following
three cases when (i) W > F’y (ii) W = F’; and
(iii) W < F'p.
Case (i) : When W > F'y i.e., the weight of
the body is greater than the weight of the
displaced liquid. Tn this case, the body will sink
as shown in Fig. 5.10. The apparent weight of Fig. 5.12 The body floats partially inside the liquid
the body (i.e., the weight of body inside liquid) when W < F 3 on complete immersion

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while floating, weight W acts at the centre of Thus,
gravity G of the body, while upthrust F; acts at
the centre of buoyancy B which is vertically
below G, and weight W is equal to upthrust
Fy only due to the submerged part of the
Examples : (1) A cork of density p, = % g em™?
body. Thus, the apparent weight of the body will
be zero in this case also. The density p of while floating in water will have its %th part immersed
such a body is less than the density p, of liquid inside water (p, = 1 g cm™) and %th part outside the
(i.e, p <pp.
surface of water.
From the above discussion, we find that for (2) A cube of ice (density p;=09¢g cm?) will
a floating body, have 90% of its volume immersed in water (density
p, =1 g cm™) while floating and only 10% outside the
surface of water.

5.14 APPLICATIONS OF THE PRINCIPLE

OF FLOATATION
(i) Floatation of iron ship
An iron nail sinks in water while a ship
floats : If we place an iron nail on the surface
of water, it sinks. This is because the density of
iron is greater than that of water, so the weight
of nail is more than the upthrust of water on it.
On the other hand, ships are also made of
iron, but they do not sink. This is because the
ship is hollow and the empty space in it contains
5.13 RELATION BETWEEN VOLUME OF air which makes its volume large and average
SUBMERGED PART OF A FLOATING density less than that of water. Therefore, even
BODY, THE DENSITIES OF LIQUID AND with a small portion of ship submerged in water,

e
the weight of water displaced by the submerged
THE BODY [% = part of ship becomes equal to the total weight
PL of ship and therefore it floats.
Let V be the volume of a body of density Py
A loaded ship is submerged more while an
Let the body be floating with its volume v unloaded ship is less submerged : When cargo
immersed inside a liquid of density p- Then is loaded on a sailing ship, its weight increases,
Weight of the body W = Volume of body s0 it sinks further to displace more water till the
x density of body x g weight of water displaced by its submerged part
becomes equal to the weight of loaded ship. If
= Vp,g cargo is unloaded, the ship will rise in water till
Weight of liquid displaced by the body or upthrust the weight of water displaced balances the
weight of unloaded ship.
Fp = Volume of displaced
liquid x density of A ship begins to submerge more as it sails
liquid x g = vp; g from sea water to river water : The water of
river is of low density than that of a sea and the
For floatation, W = Fy density of water of different sea is also different.
Therefore, when a ship sails from a sea of water
ie. Vo,g = vp g of higher density to a sea of water of lower
density (or from sea water to river water), it
or |EEERE— .. (5.19) sinks further. The reason is that according to the
law of floatation, to balance the weight of ship,
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a greater volume of water is required to be swim in Dead Sea with a small portion
displaced in water of lower density in river (or submerged inside water so as to balance his
sea). weight.
Plimsoll line : Each ship has a white line (iii) Floatation of submarines
painted on its side, known as the Plimsoll line.
A submarine is a fish shaped water-tight boat
This line indicates the safe limit for loading the
provided with several ballast (or floatation) tanks
ship in water of density 10% kg m™. A ship is not
in its front and rear parts. Fig. 5.13 shows the
allowed to be loaded further when its Plimsoll
line starts touching the water level, so that
portion of a submarine to explain its floatation.
when it sails in sea water of density more than It is provided with periscopes so that the diver
10% kg m, only the part of it below the plimsoll could see above the water surface even when the
line remains submerged in water. submarine is well inside the water.
Periscope
An unloaded ship is filled with sand at its
Ballast tank Ballast tank
bottom : An unloaded ship floats with its very
small volume inside water. As a result, its centre
of gravity is higher and its equilibrium is
unstable. There is a danger that it may get blown
over on its side by strong winds. Therefore, an
unloaded ship is filled with sand (or stones), Fig. 5.13 Submarine
called ballast, at its bottom. This lowers its
A submarine can be made to dive into the water
centre of gravity to make its equilibrium stable.
or rise up to the surface of water as and when
(ii) Floatation of human body desired. If a submarine is to dive, its ballast tanks
The average density of human body depends are filled with water so that the average density of
on the proportion of its constituents like bone, submarine becomes greater than the density of sea
blood, muscles and fat in him as each constituent water and the submarine dives into the water. If
has different density. Further, it also depends on submarine is to rise, water from the ballast tanks
the amount of air in his lungs at that time. The is forced out into the sea by allowing the
average density of body with empty lungs is compressed air to enter the tank. This makes the
1-07 g cm, while with lungs filled with air is average density of submarine less than that of sea
1-00 g cm™. A good swimmer can float on water, water. As a result, the weight of water displaced by
like a floating object, with his lungs filled with its partially small submerged part becomes equal
air and nose and mouth projecting just above the to the weight of submarine and hence it rises up to
water surface. The weight of water displaced by the surface of water.
him is then nearly equal to his own weight. Thus, (iv) Floatation of iceberg
he can swim with a very little effort.
The density of ice is less than the density of
It is easier for a man to swim in sea water water. The density of ice is 0-917 g cm™ and that
than in fresh (or river) water : The reason is
of water is 1 g cm™. Therefore, huge masses of ice
that due to presence of minerals (salt etc.), the
known as icebergs are able to float on water with
density of sea water (= 1-026 g cm™) is
their major part inside the water surface and only
more than the density of fresh (or river) water
(= 1.0 g cm™). Therefore, with a smaller portion a small portion above the water surface.
of the body submerged in sea water, the weight Volume of iceberg above the water surface
of water displaced becomes equal to the total while floating : If the total volume of an iceberg
weight of the body, while to displace the same is V and the volume of iceberg submerged is v,
weight of fresh (or river) water, a large portion of then by the principle of floatation,
his body will have to be submerged in water. So
Weight of water displaced by the submerged
it becomes difficult to swim in river water.
part of iceberg = Total weight of iceberg
In the Dead Sea, the density of water is much
or VXP X8 =VXp,Xg
more (= 1-16 g cm™), therefore, a man can easily

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of ice melts into water, it contracts by the
or ..(5.20) volume equal to the volume of ice piece above
the water surface while floating on it. Hence the
Examples : (1) An iceberg (p,,, = 0-917 g cm™) level of water does not change when the ice
floats on water (p,,,,, = 1-0 cm3) with volume floating on it melts.
v=0917 Vie. 91:7% of its total volume below the (v) Floatation of fish
water surface or only 8-3% of its volume above the Many species of fish have an organ called
water surface as shown in Fig. 5.14. a swim bladder. 1t acts like the ballast (or
floatation) tank of a submarine. When a fish has
to rise up in water, it diffuses gas from its fluid
into the bladder, so its volume increases and its
average density decreases. This increases the
volume of water displaced by the fish and so
the upthrust on fish increases due to which it
rises up. When the fish has to come down, it
Fig. 5.14 Floating iceberg empties its bladder to the required extent, so its
(2) Aniceberg (p, ice =0-917 g cm™) floats on volume decreases and density increases. Hence
sea water (p. water =1-026 g cm™3) with volume upthrust on fish decreases and it sinks in water.
(vi) Rising of balloons
=¥y
1026
0893 Vie., 89-3% of its total When a light gas like hydrogen or helium
volume submerged inside sea water and only (density much less than that of air) is filled in
10-7% above sea water. a balloon, the weight of air displaced by the
Icebergs are dangerous for ships : inflated balloon (i.e., upthrust) becomes more
Icebergs being lighter than water, float on water than the weight of the gas filled balloon and it
with their major part (nearly 90%) inside water rises up.
and only a small part (=10%) outside water.
The balloon does not rise indefinitely. The
Since portion of iceberg inside the water surface
reason is that the density of air decreases with
depends upon the density of sea water, therefore
for the driver of ship, it becomes difficult to altitude. Therefore as the balloon gradually goes
estimate the size of iceberg. Thus an iceberg is up, the weight of the displaced air (i.e.,
very dangerous for the ship as it may collide upthrust) decreases. It keeps on rising as long
with the ship and cause damage. as the upthrust on it exceeds its weight. When
No change in level of water on melting a upthrust becomes equal to its weight, it stops
floating piece of ice : When a floating piece rising further.

1. A block of wood of volume 25 cm?® floats on water of block of wood = Weight of water
with 20 cm? of its volume immersed. Calculate : displaced by the immersed part of block.
(i) the density, and (ii) the weight of block of Vpg = vx1xg (since density of water=1g cm™)
wood. , 20 3
Given : Volume of block V = 25 cm?, =—=—=08gcem
B s s
Volume immersed in water v = 20 cm? (ii)) Weight of block of wood=Vpg -
(i) If density of wood is p g cm™, then by principle =25x 08 x g=20 gdyne
of floatation.
=20gf.

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2. A block of iron floats on mercury. Find the (i) What volume of wood will remain above the
fraction of volume which remains immersed surface of liquid ?
in mercury. (Densities of iron and mercury are (ii) What force must be exerted on wood to keep it
7-8 g em™ and 13-6 g cm™ respectively) totally submerged ?
Let V be the volume of iron block and v be its Given, V=200 cm’, p, = 0-84 g cm™, p, = 1-05 g cm™
volume immersed in mercury. For floatation,
(i) Let V" cm?® be the volume of wood which remains
Weight of block = Weight of mercury displaced by
above the surface of liquid. Then submerged
the immersed portion of block.
volume of wood v =V - V' = (200 - V’) cm?
ie, Vx78xg=vx136xg and by the principle of floatation,
‘Weight of wood piece
= Upthrust due to submerged part of wood
or
200
x 084 x g = (200 V') x 105 x g
The fraction 0-574 of total volume will remain
immersed in mercury. yr o 200X(01:05-0:89)
3. An iceberg floats on fresh water with a part of & 1-05
it outside the water surface. Calculate the _ 200x021_ 3
fraction of the volume of the iceberg which is = Trs =d0an
below the water surface. (ii) When wood piece is totally submerged, then
Given : density of ice = 917 kg m™, density of Upthrust = Vxp, xg=200x1-05x g
fresh water = 1000 kg m™. = 210 gf (upwards)
By the principle of floatation, Weight of wood piece = Vxp xg=200x084x g
Volume of icebergimmersed Density of ice 168 gf (downwards)
Total volumeof iceberg ~ Density of fresh water Force to be exerted to keep the wood totally
submerged
917
= To00 = 0917 = Upthrust — Weight of wood piece
Thus 0-917% part of volume of iceberg will remain =210 - 168 = 42 gf.
below the water surface. 6. The volume of a balloon is 1000 m?. It is filled
4. A block of wood floats on water with %lh of with helium of density 0-18 kg m~. What maximum
load can it lift ? Density of air is 129
kg m™.
its volume above the water surface. Calculate
the density of wood. Given, volume of balloon V = 1000 m?,
Let the volume of block be V and density of density of helium p = 0-18 kg m3,
wood be p. Volume of block above the surface of
density of air = 129 kg m™
2
water = 5 V. Weight of helium filled balloon
] 2 =Vxpx g=1000x018
x g
+ Volume of block immersed v =V — 5 14
=180
g N = 180 kgf
By the principle of floatation,
Weight of air displaced = upthrust
Weight of the block = Weight of water displaced
by the immersed part of = V x density
of air x g
block 1000 x 129 x g
ie., Vxpxg = %Vxlxg =1290 g N = 1290 kgf
Resultant upward force on balloon
p = % =06gcm.
(Here the density of water is taken as 1 g cm™) = upthrust — weight of balloon

5. A piece of wood of volume 200 cm® and = 1290 — 180 = 1110 kgf.
density 0-84 g cm™ floats in a liquid of density So it can lift a maximum load of 1110 kgf.
1-05 g em™.

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State the principle of floatation. upthrust = volume submerged x p, x g. For liquid C,

ol g

A body is held immersed in a liquid. (i) Name the since volume submerged is least so density p, must
two forces acting on body and draw a diagram to be maximum.
show these forces. (ii) State how do the magnitudes Draw a diagram to show the forces acting on a
of two forces mentioned in part (i) determine body floating in water with its some part
whether the body will float or sink in liquid when it submerged. Name the forces and show their points
is released. (iii) What is the net force on body if it of application. How is the weight of water
(a) sinks, (b) floats ? displaced by the floating body related to the weight
‘When a piece of wood is suspended from the hook of the body itself ?
of a spring balance, it reads 70 gf. The wood is What is centre of buoyancy ? State its position for
now lowered into water. What reading do you expect a floating body with respect to the centre of gravity
on the scale of spring balance ? of body.
[Hint : The piece of wood will float on water and 12. A balloon filled with helium gas floats in a big
while floating, apparent weight = 0]. ~ Ans. Zero closed jar which is connected to an evacuating
A solid iron ball of mass 500 g is dropped in mercury pump. What will be your observation, if air from
contained in a beaker. (a) Will the ball float or sink ? jar is pumped out ? Explain your answer.
Give reason. (b) What will be the apparent weight Ans. Observation : The balloon will sink.
of ball ? Give reason. Explanation : As air is pumped out from jar, the
Ans. (a) Float, Reason: Density of ball (i.e., iron) density of air in jar decreases, so the upthrust on
is less than the density of mercury. (b) Zero balloon decreases. As weight of balloon exceeds the
Reason : While floating, upthrust = weight. upthrust on it, it sinks.
How does the density of a substance determine 13. A block of wood is so loaded that it just floats in
whether a solid piece of that substance will float water at room temperature. What change will occur
or sink in a given liquid ? in the state of floatation, if
Ans. The body will float if p, < p, (a) some salt is added to water,
and it will sink if p_ > p, (b) water is heated ?
Give reason.
Explain why an iron nail floats on mercury, but it
sinks in water. Ans. (a) Floats with some part outside water.
[Hint : Density of iron is less than that of mercury, Reason : On adding some salt to water, the density
but more than that of water] of water increases, so upthrust on block of
wood increases and hence the block rises up till
A body floats in a liquid with a part of it
the weight of salty water displaced by the
submerged inside liquid. Is the weight of floating
submerged part of block becomes equal to the weight
body greater than, equal to or less than upthrust ?
of block. (b) Sinks.
Ans. Equal to
Reason : On heating, the density of water decreases,
A homogeneous block floats on water (a) partly so upthrust on block decreases and weight of block
immersed (b) completely immersed. In each case state exceeds the upthrust due to which it sinks.
the position of centre of buoyancy B with respect to
A body of volume V and density p,, floats with
the centre of gravity G of the block.
volume v inside a liquid of density p,. Show that
Ans. (a) B will lie vertically below G (b) B will coincide G
R B
(4 Fig. 5.15 shows the same block of wood floating in v "ol
three different liquids A, Band C of densities p,, p, and 15, Why is the floating ice less submerged in brine
P, respectively. Which of the liquid has the highest than in water ?
density ? Give reason for your answer. Ans. Density of brine is more than the density of water.
16. ‘A man first swims in sea water and then in river water.
(i) Compare the weights of sea water and river
water displaced by him.
(ii) Where does he find it easier to swim and why?
Ans. (i) 1: 1 (in each case the weight of water displaced
will be equal to the weight of man) (i) In sea water
Ans. C
because the density of sea water is more than that
Reason : The upthrust on the body by each liquid is of river water so his weight is balanced in sea
same and it is equal to the weight of body. But water with his less part submerged inside it.

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ik An iron nail sinks in water while an iron ship floats Numericals :
on water. Explain the reason. 1. A rubber ball floats on water with its 1/3™ volume
What can you say about the average density of a outside water. What is the density of rubber ?
ship floating on water in relation to the density of Ans. 667 kg m™
water ? A block of wood of mass 24 kg floats on water.
Ans. Average density of ship is less than the The volume of wood is 0-032 m?. Find :
density of water.
(a) the volume of block below the surface of water,
A piece of ice floating in a glass of water melts,
but the level of water in glass does not change. (b) the density of wood.
Give reason. (Density of water = 1000 kg m™)
[Hint : Ice contracts on melting.] Ans. (a) 0024 m? (b) 7:5 x 10? kg m™
20. A buoy is held inside water contained in a vessel by A wooden cube of side 10 cm has mass 700 g.
tying it with a thread to the base of the vessel. Name What part of it remains above the water surface
the three forces that keep the buoy in equilibrium while floating vertically on the water surface ?
and state the direction in which each force acts. Ans. 3 cm height
Ans. (i) Weight of buoy vertically downwards,
(ii) upthrust of water on buoy vertically upwards,
A piece of wax floats on brine. What fraction of
and (iii) tension in thread vertically downwards. its volume is immersed ?
Density of wax = 0-95 g cm™, Density of
21 A loaded cargo ship sails from sea water to river
water ? State and explain your observation. brine = 1-1 g cm™. Ans. 0-86

22. Explain the following : If the density of ice is 0-9 g cm™, what portion of
an iceberg will remain below the surface of water
(a) Icebergs floating in sea are dangerous for
in a sea ? (Density of sea water = 1-1 g cm™)
ships. 9
(b) An egg sinks in fresh water, but floats in a Ans. —th (or 0818th) part.
strong salt solution. A piece of wood of uniform cross section and
(c) A toy balloon filled with hydrogen rises to height 15 cm floats vertically with its height
the ceiling, but if filled with carbon dioxide 10 cm in water and 12 cm in spirit. Find the
sinks to the floor. density of (i) wood and (ii) spirit.
@ As a ship in harbour is being unloaded, it Ans. (i) 0-667 g cm™, (ii) 0-833 g cm™
slowly rises higher in water. A wooden block floats in water with two-third of
(e) A balloon filled with hydrogen rises to a its volume submerged. (a) Calculate the density of
certain height and then stops rising further. wood. (b) When the same block is placed on oil,
(f) A ship submerges more as it sails from sea three-quarter of its volume is immersed in oil.
water to river water. Calculate the density of oil.
Ans. (a) 667 kg m™, (b) 889 kg m™
Multiple choice type :
L For a floating body, its weight W and upthrust Fy The density of ice is 092 g cm™ and that of sea
on it are related as : water is 1025 g cm™. Find the total volume of an
(@) W>F, (b) W<F, iceberg which floats with its volume 800 cm?® above
water. Ans. 7809-5 cm?
© W=F, (d) nothing can be said.
Ans. () W=F, A weather forecasting plastic balloon of volume
2. A body of weight W is floating in a liquid. Its 15 m? contains hydrogen of density 0-09 kg m™. The
apparent weight will be : volume of an equipment carried by the balloon is
negligible compared to its own volume. The mass of
(a) equalto W (b) less than W
empty balloon alone is 7-15 kg. The balloon is
(c) greaterthan W (d) zero. Ans. (d) zero floating in air of density 1-3 kg m™. Calculate :
A body floats in a liquid A of density p, with a (i) the mass of hydrogen in the balloon, (ii) the
part of it submerged inside liquid while in liquid mass of hydrogen and balloon, (iii) the total
B of density p, totally submerged inside liquid. mass of hydrogen, balloon and equipment if
The densities p, and p, are related as : the mass of equipment is x kg, (iv) the mass of
air displaced by balloon and (v) the mass of
@ p=p, ® py<p,
equipment using the law of floatation.
© p>p, (d) nothing can be said
Ans. (i) 1-35 kg (ii) 8-5 kg (iii) (85 + x) kg
Ans. (¢) p; > p,
(iv) 19:5 kg (v) 11 kg
I (1)
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