Buoyancy Calculator

This calculator helps you understand buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle by calculating forces on objects in fluids. Enter an object's volume and mass, choose a fluid, and see whether the object will float or sink.

Key Concepts

• Buoyant Force: The upward force exerted by a fluid on an immersed object, equal to the weight of displaced fluid
• Floating: Objects float when their density is less than the fluid's density, with only part of the object submerged
• Sinking: Objects sink when their density exceeds the fluid's density
• Neutral Buoyancy: When object and fluid densities are equal, the object remains suspended at any depth

Real-World Applications

• Ship Design: Engineers use buoyancy principles to design vessels that displace enough water to support their weight
• Submarine Operation: Submarines adjust their buoyancy by filling or emptying ballast tanks to dive or surface
• Hot Air Balloons: Balloons float in air because heated air inside is less dense than surrounding cool air
• Scuba Diving: Divers adjust their buoyancy using weight belts and buoyancy control devices (BCDs)

Tips for Using This Tool

• Try different fluid presets to see how objects behave in water, oil, honey, or even air
• Use the common object density reference to understand which materials float or sink in water
• For floating objects, the submerged fraction equals the ratio of object density to fluid density