Proving Archimedes' Principle for Sphere & Cylinder

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around proving Archimedes' principle specifically for a sphere submerged in a cylindrical vessel of the same volume, focusing on the buoyant forces experienced in both cases. Participants explore various methods of proof, including integration and conceptual arguments.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests a proof of Archimedes' principle for a sphere and a cylinder, specifically regarding the equivalence of buoyant forces.
  • Another participant suggests a conceptual approach that avoids integration, stating that the net force on an imaginary object submerged in fluid must equal the weight of the fluid it displaces, thus illustrating Archimedes' principle.
  • A different participant expresses a preference for using integration to prove the principle but indicates difficulty in calculations and suggests that their results were incorrect.
  • One participant provides a mathematical formulation involving fluid pressure and buoyant force, detailing the integration process and emphasizing the relationship between pressure gradients and buoyant force.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple approaches to proving Archimedes' principle, with no consensus on the preferred method or resolution of the calculation difficulties. Disagreement exists regarding the effectiveness and clarity of the integration method versus the conceptual argument.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the complexity of the integration method and the potential for errors in calculations, while others emphasize the conceptual understanding of buoyant forces without resolving the mathematical details.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and enthusiasts interested in fluid mechanics, particularly those exploring buoyancy and Archimedes' principle through different mathematical and conceptual frameworks.

sadhu
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can anyone prove Archimedes's principle for a sphere and a cylindrical vessel of same volume
, and prove that the forces are same in both cases.



I mean buoyant forces.....
 
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Well, you could just crank it out--integrate the fluid pressure over the surface area. Sounds like a good exercise.

But you can also use an argument that requires no integration and works for any shape. Imagine any object submerged in the fluid. Now replace that object by an equal volume of fluid. Since the fluid is in hydrostatic equilibrium, the net force of the surrounding fluid on that imaginary "object" must equal the weight of the fluid contained within its boundary. That's Archimedes's principle. Done!
 
I prefer to use that integration idea

but on calculation it is getting to complicated to solve , however somehow when i solved it
, I just got it wrong...i think

can anyone show me its integration...pleazzzz
 
P = dgh = dg(-y), where I’m writing d for the density of the fluid, and choosing +y in the upward direction, and g is a scalar, and g=-gj.

Buoyant force B = total force on submerged body = Surface Integral Pda = Volume integral [(grad P)dV].

Now, grad P = grad (-dgy) = -dgj

So, B = the vol integral = -dgVj= -dV*gj = weight of fluid displaced, acting upward.

p.s. Archimedes didn't know calculus. Anyway, now you can try your hand on calculating the buoyant force on a really big object floating in the ocean by calculus. I mean, in a non-uniform g field.
 
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