Do the Equations for Apparent Weight and Buoyant Force Contradict Each Other?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies the relationship between apparent weight, actual weight, and buoyant force in fluid mechanics. The equation wt (ap) = wt (ac) - F(b) accurately describes the apparent weight of an object, where wt (ap) is the apparent weight, wt (ac) is the actual weight, and F(b) is the buoyant force. When an object is floating, the buoyant force equals the actual weight, resulting in an apparent weight of zero. The confusion arises when considering submerged objects, which may not be fully supported by buoyancy alone if they rest on the bottom.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Archimedes' principle
  • Familiarity with the concepts of weight and buoyant force
  • Basic knowledge of equilibrium in physics
  • Ability to interpret equations related to forces in fluids
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Archimedes' principle in detail
  • Learn about the conditions for equilibrium in fluid mechanics
  • Explore the concept of apparent weight in various fluid scenarios
  • Investigate the effects of density on buoyant force and weight
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Students of physics, educators teaching fluid mechanics, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of buoyancy and weight in fluids.

Metalbob
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1) My teacher says that the apparent weight of an object in water (floating,sunken,submerged etc) is equal to it's actual weight-buoyant force acting on it.

That is, wt (ap)=wt (ac)- F(b)

Where wt (ap) = apparent weight,
weight (ac)= actual weight.
And f (b) = buoyant force

2) But..., if an object is floating or is submerged under water, it's weight is completely supported by the buoyant force acting on it. So shouldn't the buoyant force be equal to the apparent weight of the floating object.?
i.e., f (b)=wt (ap)

The equations in 1) and 2) contradict each other.

Please tell me where I am wrong.
 
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Metalbob said:
2) But..., if an object is floating or is submerged under water, it's weight is completely supported by the buoyant force acting on it.
What about a stone submerged under water? Is it fully supported by buoyancy?
 
Metalbob said:
But..., if an object is floating or is submerged under water, it's weight is completely supported by the buoyant force acting on it. So shouldn't the buoyant force be equal to the apparent weight of the floating object.?
i.e., f (b)=wt (ap)
The equations in 1) and 2) contradict each other.
Please tell me where I am wrong.

A submerged object (resting on the bottom) is not completely supported by the buoyancy force , some support comes from the sea bottom , and this support from the sea bottom is the 'apparent weight' ...
If floating there is no apparent weight ...
 
An object submerged in water will sink to the bottom if its actual weight is more than the buoyant force.

If it floats below the surface but doesn't sink, then the weight and buoyant forces exactly balance.

If the weight is less than the buoyant force, it floats to the surface and only part of the object will be submerged, like a boat.
 
Just to complete the answers with specific reference to where you went wrong:

Metalbob said:
if an object is floating ..., it's weight is completely supported by the buoyant force acting on it.

Right.

Metalbob said:
So shouldn't the buoyant force be equal to the apparent weight of the floating object.?
i.e., f (b)=wt (ap)

No, in this case the buoyant force is equal to the actual weight. That is why the object is in equilibrium and its apparent weight is zero. But apparent.. for whom? For you, for example: you don't need to make any effort to avoid that the object sinks and if you put a balance scale under the object it will read zero, just as if it were supported by a rope from a hook. But for the water itself, things are different: the water has suffered the actual weight (well, to be accurate, the water has suffered contact force equal to the object's actual weight and has reacted by applying another contact force of the same magnitude, i.e. the buoyant force).
 
mfb said:
What about a stone submerged under water? Is it fully supported by buoyancy?

I knew there was something off about the submerged part.
 
Restating a comment from above, if an object is completely submerged and is not moving vertically up or down then it is in equilibrium, the buoyant force equals the actual weight. The apparent weight is zero.
 

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