Buoyancy: Can Force Be Greater Than Mass?

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    Buoyancy
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of buoyancy, specifically whether the buoyant force can exceed the mass of an object. Participants explore scenarios involving boats and ships, examining the relationship between buoyancy, weight, and displacement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question if the buoyant force can be greater than an object's mass, suggesting that it can occur under certain conditions.
  • One participant clarifies that the comparison should be made with weight rather than mass, as buoyancy relates to the weight of the fluid displaced.
  • Another participant references Archimedes' Principle, implying that buoyancy is linked to the volume of fluid displaced by an object.
  • It is noted that large boats often contain air at the bottom to enhance buoyancy, which some participants believe contributes to the overall buoyant force.
  • One participant asserts that the buoyant force acting on a floating object equals its weight, while the force on a submerged object depends on its volume and the fluid's density.
  • Another participant discusses the mechanics of raising shipwrecks using inflatable devices to increase the volume of displaced water, thereby increasing buoyancy beyond the weight of the object.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the relationship between buoyancy and weight, questioning why some sources do not address scenarios where an object could be lighter and still float.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between buoyancy and weight, with some asserting that buoyancy can exceed weight under certain conditions, while others maintain that the buoyant force equals the weight of the object when floating. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on assumptions about definitions of mass and weight, and the discussion does not resolve the implications of buoyancy in various scenarios, such as the role of air in boats or the mechanics of submerged objects.

kaweezah
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Is it be possible for the buoyancy force be greater than the object's mass? when can it be?
 
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This sounds like homework. Do you have any thoughts? Further, I don't think you mean "mass" since one cannot compare objects with different dimensions.
 
kaweezah said:
Is it be possible for the buoyancy force be greater than the object's mass? when can it be?

Think about boats, ships etc.. they all float !
 
hey cristo...i meant WEIGHT...
 
kaweezah said:
Is it be possible for the buoyancy force be greater than the object's mass? when can it be?

Of course. Whenever the volume of the object in question displaces more mass of the substance it is immersed in than it's own mass.

Edit: Whoops. Sorry stewartcs, yep that link just about sums it up!:approve:
 
as far as i know
well in the big boats they keep some type of air at the bottom of the boat so that there is more bouncy so in other words i think so
 
The potential buoyancy of an object is completely unrelated to its weight. The actual buoyant force on an object that is floating is exactly equal to its weight. The buoyant force on a submerged object depends on its volume and the weight density of the fluid only.
 
noagname said:
as far as i know
well in the big boats they keep some type of air at the bottom of the boat so that there is more bouncy so in other words i think so
As a matter of fact, at the very bottom of big boats is where the heaviest equipment and fuel are kept, for stability. Otherwise, anywhere below the water line of a boat, where there is nothing but air (ie, in the middle of a corridor or room), that air is where water could have been, so it contributes to buoyancy.
 
  • #10
ok so i am taking it that i am half right and half wrong
just like a glass of water
 
  • #11
I asked this question because I've read sources always stopping if their weights are EQUAL..never saying if the boat was lighter that it could still be possible then...why is it that those sources never mention the lighter thing/part...
 
  • #12
Because boats don't get pulled down - In order to submerge an object that has enough buoyancy to float, you have to use another force to force it underwater.
 
  • #13
You can raise shipwrecks from the sea-bottom by attaching inflatable balloons, or floaters to them.

The point about doing this is to increase the volume of displaced water, so that the ship+balloon system will experience a buoyancy force greater than its weight.
 

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