Does Increased Pressure Affect Buoyancy?

In summary, the two metal spheres with the same volume filled with 5 ATM and 6 ATM of helium will experience the same buoyancy force in air. This is because the buoyancy force is determined by the weight of the air displaced by the sphere according to Archimedes' principle, not the weight of the helium inside. Additionally, buoyancy is caused by a difference in density between the buoyant object and the surrounding medium. Therefore, compressing helium to a higher pressure will increase its density and decrease its buoyancy.
  • #1
chemisthypnos
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Imagine that there are two metal spheres both with the same volumes and I am trying to get them to float up into the air. I fill the first sphere with 5 ATM of helium and I fill the second sphere with 6 ATM of helium. Will either sphere have a higher buoyancy force acting on it than the other sphere if we assume that the medium that the spheres are in is air?
 
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  • #2
The way to calculate that is to find the difference in the weight of air to weight of helium for the same volume and same pressure..

You can look up the numbers and do the calculations yourself. Let us know your answer.
 
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  • #3
The buoyant force is the same for both. The second sphere will weigh more because it has more helium inside of it. The air supplies the buoyant force, which is equal to the weight of the air displaced by the sphere by Archimedes principle. The helium inside the metal sphere does not supply the buoyant force. A balloon filled with helium floats because the helium is lighter than the air that gets displaced.
 
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  • #4
Buoyancy is caused by a difference between the density of the buoyant object and the medium surrounding it. What happens to the density of helium if you compress it to a higher pressure?
 
  • #5
Thanks, everyone.
 
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  • #6
Janus said:
Buoyancy is caused by a difference between the density of the buoyant object and the medium surrounding it. What happens to the density of helium if you compress it to a higher pressure?
Please see @Charles Link's answer (which is correct).
 
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1. How does increased pressure affect buoyancy?

Increased pressure does not have a direct effect on buoyancy. Buoyancy is determined by the difference in density between an object and the fluid it is submerged in.

2. Can increased pressure cause an object to sink?

Increased pressure alone cannot cause an object to sink. However, if the pressure increases while the density of the object remains constant, it could cause the object to sink as the buoyant force decreases.

3. Does increased pressure affect the buoyant force?

No, increased pressure does not affect the buoyant force. The buoyant force is determined by the density of the fluid and the volume of the displaced fluid, which are not affected by pressure.

4. How does depth affect buoyancy?

The depth at which an object is submerged does not directly affect buoyancy. However, as depth increases, pressure also increases, which can affect the density of the fluid and the buoyancy of the object.

5. Can increased pressure change the weight of an object?

Increased pressure does not change the weight of an object. Weight is determined by the mass and the force of gravity, which are not affected by pressure. However, if the object is submerged in a fluid with changing pressure, the apparent weight of the object may change due to the buoyant force.

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