Buoyancy force and surface tension

AI Thread Summary
Buoyancy force arises from pressure differences on an object submerged in a fluid, while surface tension acts downward on objects pushing against a fluid's surface. When considering an object influenced by surface tension, both buoyancy and surface tension forces should be included in the free-body diagram. The presence of a thin layer of fluid above the object necessitates accounting for these forces to accurately represent the object's behavior. This approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics at play. Properly incorporating these forces is essential for accurate analysis in fluid mechanics.
runningninja
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The buoyancy force is defined as the difference in pressures on the top and bottom of an object submerged in a fluid. When an object is pushing on the top surface of a fluid from underneath, the force of surface tension begins to act downward on the object, preventing it from breaking the surface.

When this is the case (an object being affected by surface tension), do I account for both the forces of buoyancy and the surface tension in my free-body diagram of the object, since there is a very thin amount of fluid on the top of the object?
 
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runningninja said:
When this is the case (an object being affected by surface tension), do I account for both the forces of buoyancy and the surface tension in my free-body diagram of the object, since there is a very thin amount of fluid on the top of the object?

In general, yes.
 

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