How does the depth of an object in water affect its horizontal force?

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The discussion revolves around the effects of an object's depth in water on the horizontal forces acting on it. The subject area includes fluid mechanics and buoyancy principles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the depth of an object in water and the horizontal forces it experiences. Questions are raised about the meaning of "horizontal force" and whether the force is proportional to the submerged volume of the object.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the forces acting on the object, noting that the horizontal forces exerted by the water cancel each other out, leading to a net horizontal force of zero. The concept of buoyant force is also mentioned, with references to Archimedes' principle, although there is no explicit consensus on the relationship between submerged depth and horizontal force.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the original poster's confusion regarding the relationship between the submerged portion of the object and the forces acting on it, indicating a need for further clarification on the definitions and principles involved.

jimmy42
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If an object is only half in the water, so floating. Will its horizontal force be half of that if it was fully underwater?

Thanks.
 
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What do you mean by "its horizontal force"?
 
So, the water will be pushing on it in the positive and negative X ( left and right ) direction. If there is a box floating then only the bottom part will feel this force, as they are both equal they will cancel out. That means the box will not move.

I know that the force acting in the Y direction, so up down will be different and can work that out. I just wanted to know if half the box is in the water does it follow that because half as much water is exposed to the box then the force is half as much as when it's fully in the water.

Thanks.
 
jimmy42 said:
So, the water will be pushing on it in the positive and negative X ( left and right ) direction. If there is a box floating then only the bottom part will feel this force, as they are both equal they will cancel out. That means the box will not move.
The net horizontal force exerted by the water on the object will be zero. However the water does exert an upward buoyant force on the object.

I know that the force acting in the Y direction, so up down will be different and can work that out. I just wanted to know if half the box is in the water does it follow that because half as much water is exposed to the box then the force is half as much as when it's fully in the water.
The buoyant force equals the weight of the displaced liquid (this is Archimedes' principle). So the buoyant force when half-submerged is half as much as when fully submerged.
 

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