Why Doesn't Air Pressure Affect Archimedes' Principle?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the influence of air pressure on Archimedes' principle, particularly whether air pressure should be considered in buoyancy calculations for submerged objects. Participants explore theoretical scenarios and the implications of air pressure in different contexts, including incompressible fluids and specific cases like Cartesian divers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that air pressure plays no role in Archimedes' principle, emphasizing that the key factors are the densities of the fluid and the object, along with gravity.
  • Others argue that air pressure does influence buoyancy, particularly in cases like Cartesian divers, suggesting that it should be accounted for in certain scenarios.
  • One participant questions whether the influence of air pressure can be neglected entirely, noting that it is the same on both the object and the water.
  • Another participant highlights that while air pressure does not affect buoyancy for fully submerged objects, it can influence the behavior of objects in contact with air.
  • There is a discussion about the compressibility of water and how it relates to the assumptions of incompressibility in buoyancy calculations.
  • Some participants mention that atmospheric pressure contributes to the total pressure acting on submerged bodies but does not affect the pressure gradient that determines buoyancy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the role of air pressure in Archimedes' principle. There is no consensus on whether air pressure should be considered in buoyancy calculations, leading to an unresolved discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in their arguments, such as the dependence on definitions of buoyancy and the specific conditions under which air pressure might be relevant. The discussion also touches on the complexities of pressure gradients and the effects of atmospheric pressure on submerged objects.

HWGXX7
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Why isn't the influence of air pressure assimilated in Archimedes law?

If an obect is more dense than the fluid, it wil sink. That is clear, but suppose I could lower down de air pressue, so less force that tends to push the object tot the surface. Is there any situation possible of adjusting the air pressure to get an object just floating? Or is the influence of the air pressure in incompressible fluids not great, so change in pressure wouldn't be noticed very much?

But , think of it as an theoretical question.

thank in advance
 
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The key factors are the density of the fluid and the object, with gravity the controlling force. Air pressure plays no role.
 
Air pressure plays no role.

The reason is that it can be neglected, is that correct?
 
HWGXX7 said:
The reason is that it can be neglected, is that correct?

Your question is confusing. The air pressure is the same on both the object and the water.
 
An object immersed in air experiences bouyancy.

I think it IS accounted for in Archimedes' law.

You answered your question in OP.
Or is the influence of the air pressure in incompressible fluids not great, so change in pressure wouldn't be noticed very much?
Have more faith in yourself !

In slide rule days the effect was too small to warrant consideration, but with today's umpteen-digit calculators I'm sure it could be included. Try it and see how many digits out it shows up.

From wiki,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Properties_of_water
Compressibility

The compressibility of water is a function of pressure and temperature. At 0 °C, at the limit of zero pressure, the compressibility is 5.1×10−10 Pa−1.[28] At the zero-pressure limit, the compressibility reaches a minimum of 4.4×10−10 Pa−1 around 45 °C before increasing again with increasing temperature. As the pressure is increased, the compressibility decreases, being 3.9×10−10 Pa−1 at 0 °C and 100 MPa.

The bulk modulus of water is 2.2 GPa.[29] The low compressibility of non-gases, and of water in particular, leads to their often being assumed as incompressible. The low compressibility of water means that even in the deep oceans at 4 km depth, where pressures are 40 MPa, there is only a 1.8% decrease in volume.[29]
 
Last edited:
I think it IS accounted for in Archimedes' law.

I re-analysed it and atmospherical pressure cannot influence the dyncamic behaviour of a particle that is submerged complete. So there Archimedes law cannot account for it at all.

Air pressure plays a role in the buoyancy of Cartesian divers.

Correct, in general air pressure will influence the behaviour of any particle in contact with the air pressure. Once complete submerged this isn't the case anymore.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buoyancy


grtz
 
HWGXX7 said:
Correct, in general air pressure will influence the behaviour of any particle in contact with the air pressure. Once complete submerged this isn't the case anymore.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buoyancy
grtz
It does not have to be "in contact". The atmospheric pressure is transmitted through water. The pressure acting on the submerged body is the sum of atmospheric pressure and hydrostatic pressure. If the submerged body is flexible, the increase in atmospheric pressure may produce a change of its volume.

The results that atmospheric pressure does not directly influence buoyancy is due to the buoyancy depending on the pressure difference (or gradient) along the vertical direction.
Atmospheric pressure just adds a constant factor to the hydrostatic pressure and this has no contribution to the gradient.
 
It does not have to be "in contact".

Correct, made a mistake there. Difference in air pressure wil result in greater hydrostatic pressure, and therefore a greater upward force.
The object remains in static equilibrium because of difference in de weight of the air pushing downwards.


thank for all the help
 

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