Physics 106

In this lab, we will be studying a phenomenon which we haven't specifically studied in class:

First we will learn to spell it.  Buoyancy (...spellcheck...) Okay.   It is just another force to add to our list of forces.  The nature of buoyancy is not so important to understand (at this point), just that it is the upward force due to immersion in a fluid.  Think of trying to dive under water - the buoyant force of the water pushed you back up.  Why does a balloon float?  The buoyant force of the air. Why don't you float then???

Notes: check calibrate and zero of the force sensor

Theory

Buoyancy is actually due to the pressure in a fluid, which increases as you go down, thus there is always a bigger force below you than above you, but this is the part we don't have to worry about for this lab.  We know that buoyancy is the upward force due to submersion in a fluid, and we can measure it by measuring the forces on a body in the fluid (see prelab).  We can add it to our free body diagrams in order to apply Newton's Second Law, and understand the dynamics of a body in a fluid.

Department of Physics