Buoyancy questions: Submerged vs Floating

[PhysicsTyro]

Is there a difference in submerged objects and floating objects? I know in floating objects that the Force of Buoyancy has to equal the Force of the object, but I'm not sure about submerged objects. What exactly is a submerged object?

Another question I have: what exactly does volume have to do with buoyancy?

Lastly: I was given three equations and I wanted to know when and how I used them:

Fnet = pVdisplacementg

Fnet = mg-pVg

mg = pVg (or m=pV)

All help is appreciated and sorry if these questions seem rather like 'duh' questions, but I simply don't understand buoyancy and I don't want to fall behind in class.

 

[Neo_Anderson]

My bet is that this thread is the next one to get sent downrange to the Homework forum...

 

[sir-pinski]

Yes, there is a difference between submerged and floating objects. Submerged objects are completely or partially immersed in a fluid (such as water) and their weight is supported by the fluid. This means that the force of buoyancy is greater than the weight of the object, causing it to float. On the other hand, floating objects are objects that are able to remain at the surface of the fluid without sinking, and the force of buoyancy is equal to the weight of the object.

To determine whether an object will sink, float, or remain submerged, we need to consider two main factors: the density of the object and the density of the fluid it is submerged in. If the object is denser than the fluid, it will sink. If the object is less dense than the fluid, it will float. If the object and the fluid have the same density, the object will remain submerged at a certain level.

Volume plays a crucial role in determining buoyancy. The volume of an object affects its density, and therefore its ability to float or sink. The more volume an object has, the more water it will displace, and the greater the force of buoyancy will be. This is why larger objects tend to float more easily than smaller objects.

The equations you were given are all related to the concept of buoyancy. The first equation, Fnet = pVdisplacementg, calculates the net force acting on an object submerged in a fluid. Fnet represents the net force, p is the density of the fluid, Vdisplacement is the volume of the fluid displaced by the object, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. This equation is used to determine whether an object will float or sink.

The second equation, Fnet = mg-pVg, calculates the net force acting on an object floating on the surface of a fluid. Fnet represents the net force, m is the mass of the object, p is the density of the fluid, V is the volume of the object, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. This equation is used to determine the buoyant force acting on the object and whether it will remain at the surface or sink.

The third equation, mg = pVg (or m=pV), calculates the weight of an object and is used to compare it to the buoyant force acting on the object. If the weight is greater than the buoyant force, the object will sink. If the weight