Two blocks are of identical size. One is made of lead and sits on the bottom of a pond; the other is of wood and floats on top. Upon which is the buoyant force smaller?
Question
Two blocks are of identical size. One is made of lead and sits on the bottom of a pond; the other is of wood and floats on top. Upon which is the buoyant force smaller?
Solution
The buoyant force is smaller on the block of lead. Here's why:
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Buoyant force is the force exerted on an object that is wholly or partly immersed in a fluid. In this case, the fluid is water.
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According to Archimedes' principle, the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
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The wooden block floats on top of the water, meaning it displaces a volume of water equal to its own volume.
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The lead block, however, is denser and sinks to the bottom. It also displaces a volume of water equal to its own volume, but because lead is denser than water, the weight of the lead block is greater than the weight of the water it displaces.
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Therefore, the buoyant force (which equals the weight of the displaced water) is smaller on the lead block than on the wooden block.
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