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

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between apparent weight, actual weight, and buoyant force for objects in water, including scenarios where objects are floating, submerged, or resting on the bottom. Participants explore the implications of these concepts and whether they contradict each other.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the apparent weight of an object in water is equal to its actual weight minus the buoyant force acting on it.
  • Others argue that if an object is floating or submerged, its weight is completely supported by the buoyant force, leading to the assertion that the buoyant force should equal the apparent weight.
  • A participant clarifies that a submerged object resting on the bottom is not fully supported by buoyancy alone, as some support comes from the bottom, contributing to the concept of apparent weight.
  • It is noted that an object submerged in water will sink if its actual weight exceeds the buoyant force, while if it floats, the weight and buoyant forces balance.
  • One participant emphasizes that for a floating object, the buoyant force equals the actual weight, resulting in an apparent weight of zero for the observer, but the water experiences the object's actual weight.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of these concepts for submerged objects, with questions about whether they are fully supported by buoyancy.
  • A later reply reiterates that a completely submerged object in equilibrium has a buoyant force equal to its actual weight, leading to an apparent weight of zero.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between buoyant force, actual weight, and apparent weight, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on specific conditions, such as the state of motion of the object (floating, submerged, or resting on the bottom), which may affect the interpretation of apparent weight and buoyant force. The discussion does not resolve these nuances.

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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