College of Health Science

Department of Physics
Experiment Report in General Physics

Section
2
Experiment 6
ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE
The Experimenters ID number
1. Eyob Zebene UGR/5067/12

2. Girum Tesfaye UGR/2443/12

3. Habtamu Ayenew UGR7903//12

4. Kelo Abayo UGR/2485/12

Date of experimentation: 15th January, 2020

Date of submission: 22nd January, 2020
Name of Instructor Tesfu Kassaye
 Archimedes’ Principle

I) Introduction

It can be observed that an object submerged in a fluid weighs less than when the object is
outside the fluid. This is a result of the fact that as the force of gravity is acting downward on the
object, there is also a buoyant force acting upward on the object while it is immersed in the fluid.
The buoyant force occurs from an increase in pressure within the fluid as the depth increases. It was
thus found by Archimedes that this buoyant force acting on an object immersed in a fluid is equal to,
in magnitude, weight of the fluid displaced by that object. As observed in the diagram, Archimedes'
Principle holds regardless of the shape of an object since the forces acting on an object at a given
depth are independent of direction and the vector sum of these forces is just the buoyant force (Fb).
In this experiment we shall use this principle to determine, using two different methods, the buoyant
force acting on an object as its submerged volume is varied. It is common experience to see that
objects float on water (like ships) and some totally submerged. This is because of an upward force
called buoyancy. This physical phenomenon is succinctly described by Archimedes’ Principle.

Archimedes’ Principle, principle discovered by the Greek scientist Archimedes that states that a
body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the displaced fluid. This
principle, also known as the law of hydrostatics, applies to both floating and submerged bodies, and
to all fluids.

An object is subject to an upward force when it is immersed in liquid. The force is equal to the
weight of the liquid displaced. The apparent weight of a block of aluminum (1) immersed in water is
reduced by an amount equal to the weight of water displaced. If a block of wood (2) is completely
immersed in water, the upward force is greater than the weight of the wood. (Wood is less dense
than water, so the weight of the block of wood is less than that of the same volume of water.) So the
block rises and partly emerges to displace less water until the upward force exactly equals the weight
of the block. In this experiment, the buoyant force and densities of different metal cylinders were
measured three different ways and the results compared.

II) Objective(s) of the Experiment

In this experiment we

 investigated the buoyant force acting on a variety of objects.

 measured the density of solid objects and the density of tap water.

III) Theory

Archimedes’ principle states that a body wholly or partially submerged in a fluid is buoyed up by
a force equal in magnitude to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body. It is important to
remember that fluid includes liquids and gases. This force is given by:

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 Archimedes’ Principle

FB = ρVg

where ρ (rho) is the density of the fluid, V is the volume of fluid displaced and g is acceleration
due to gravity. It is the buoyant force that keeps ships afloat in water and hot air balloons floating in
air.

IV) Apparatus

 Triple-Beam Balance with string

 Graduated Cylinder (100 ml)
 Pipette
 Brass Cylinder
 Aluminum Cylinder
 Wood Cylinder
 Overflow Container
 Spouted Can
 Digital Balance
 123-Blocks
 Wood Board

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 Archimedes’ Principle

 Rod & Clamp

 Paper Towels
 Tap Water

V) Procedure

In this experiment, the buoyant force and densities of different metal cylinders will be measured
three ways and the results compared. The first method is by the measurement of force. This method
involves weighing an object first in air, then in water, and using the difference in weight as the
buoyant force. Though the object's mass does not change; its apparent weight will change when
measured while immersed in a fluid that is denser than air.

The second method is the displaced volume method. The volume of fluid displaced by the object
is measured and its weight calculated. The weight of the water displaced is equal to the buoyant
force exerted on the object, by Archimedes' Principle.

The third method is by the buoyant force equation method. By measuring the dimensions of the
object and calculating the volume, one can determine the buoyant force that would be exerted on the
object when it is submerged in a fluid of known density ρ.

PART I) Overflow Method

First we measured the mass of the brass cylinder in air and we determined its weight,
Wmetals . Then we placed the overflow container on the digital balance and read off their
mass m. After that we filled the spouted can with water and we positioned it so that water
would pour into the overflow container. Consequently, we immersed the brass cylinder
fully in the water and collected displaced water in the overflow container. Finally, we
measured the mass of the overflow container again, m then calculated the mass of the
displaced water; so that we could calculate their weight. This is the buoyant force,

Fb = ρwVdisp g

Based on this procedure, we calculated the density of the metals and buoyant force on
them.

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 Archimedes’ Principle

PART II) Direct Measurement of Mass

First we calibrated the triple beam balance and we noted the least count. After that we
suspended the metal cylinders from a string attached to the balance. We then immersed the
metallic cylinders into the water after the water was filled partially in the overflow container.
Then we measured their apparent mass, m’ by using the following formula. We were being
extremely careful not to touch the container while measuring.

Wmetals = m’g

Which was determined as Fb on the object by Wmetals - W’metals. Finally we calculated the densities
of the metals.

PART III) Direct Measurement of Mass

First we partially filled the graduated cylinder with water and took note of the water level,
Vi. After doing that, we used the pipette to fine-tune the meniscus. Also noted the least count of
the graduated cylinder. We carefully immersed the metals cylinder in the water and read off the
new water level, Vf. Consequently, we determined the volume of the brass cylinder by taking the
difference Vf - Vi. Finally, we determined Fb on the brass cylinder.

VI) Data

A)

Mass and Weight Mass and volume of displaced water Buoyant Force Density Error
(N) (kg/m3)
Trial

Aluminum Brass Aluminum 𝛥m Brass 𝛥m Alumi Brass Alumi Brass In %

m(kg) W(N) m(kg W(N) mi(kg mf(kg Vdispla (kg) mi(kg mf(kg) Vdispla (kg) (N) (N) (kg/ (kg/m3 Alu Brs
) ) ) (10-4m3) ) (10-4m3) m3) )

1 0.0044 0.043 0.037 0.363 0.028 0.029 0.020 0.001 0.028 0.0313 0.035 0.003 0.020 0.034 2200 10571 18.5 25

2 0.0046 0.041 0.034 0.363 0.028 0.030 0.019 0.002 0.028 0.0314 0.037 0.003 0.019 0.036 2422 9170 10.3 9.1

3 0.0046 0.045 0.031 0.353 0.027 0.029 0.018 0.002 0.027 0.0315 0.039 0.005 0.018 0.038 2555 8710 5.4 3.7

X 0.0045 0.043 0.034 0.360 0.028 0.029 0.019 0.002 0.028 0.0314 0.037 0.004 0.019 0.036 2392 9483 11.4 12.6

Table 1.0, Overflow method, at 21°c and 1000 kg/m3 of density of water.

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 Archimedes’ Principle

B)

Mass and Weight in air Mass and Weight in water Buoyant Force Density Error
(N) (kg/m3)
Trial

Aluminum Brass Aluminum Brass Aluminum Brass Aluminum Brass In %

m(kg) W(N) m(kg) W(N) m(kg) W(N) m(kg) W(N) (N) (N) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) Alu Brs

1 0.0044 0.043 0.037 0.363 0.0024 0.024 0.032 0.314 0.019 0.049 2200 10571 18.5 25

2 0.0046 0.041 0.034 0.363 0.0024 0.024 0.033 0.323 0.017 0.040 2422 9170 10.3 9.1

3 0.0046 0.045 0.031 0.353 0.0025 0.025 0.032 0.314 0.020 0.039 2555 8710 5.4 3.7

X 0.0045 0.043 0.034 0.360 0.0024 0.024 0.032 0.317 0.019 0.043 2392 9483 11.4 12.6

Table 2.0, Direct measurement of mass, at 21°c and 1000 kg/m3 of density of water.

C)

Mass and Weight in air Volume of water in graduated cylinder Buoyant Force (N) Density (kg/m3) Error
(10 -4m3)
l Tria

-4 3
Aluminum Brass Aluminum (10 m ) Brass (10 -4m3) Aluminum Brass Aluminum Brass In %

m(kg) W(N) m(kg) W(N) Vi Vf Vdisp Vi Vf Vdisp (N) (N) (kg/m3) (kg/m3) Alu Brs

1 0.0044 0.043 0.037 0.363 0.200 0.220 0.020 0.230 0.265 0.035 0.020 0.034 2200 10571 18.5 25

2 0.0046 0.041 0.034 0.363 0.300 0.490 0.019 0.350 0.387 0.037 0.019 0.036 2422 9170 10.3 9.1

3 0.0046 0.045 0.031 0.353 0.400 0.580 0.018 0.400 0.439 0.039 0.018 0.038 2555 8710 5.4 3.7

X 0.0045 0.043 0.034 0.360 0.300 0.430 0.019 0.293 0.364 0.037 0.019 0.036 2392 9483 11.4 12.6

Table 3.0, Displacement method, at 21°c and 1000 kg/m3 of density of water.

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 Archimedes’ Principle

D) Data and Error Analysis

 The calculations and their corresponding errors are provided in the data part above.

i. In the overflow method, we calculated the density of aluminum with mean value of 2392
kg/m3 with a percentage error of 11.4% and the density of brass with mean value of 9483
kg/m3 with a percentage error of 12.6%.
ii. In the direct measurement of mass method, we calculated the density of aluminum with
mean value of 2392 kg/m3 with a percentage error of 11.4% and the density of brass with
mean value of 9483 kg/m3 with a percentage error of 12.6%.
iii. In the displacement method, we calculated the density of aluminum with mean value of
2392 kg/m3 with a percentage error of 11.4% and the density of brass with mean value of
9483 kg/m3 with a percentage error of 12.6%.

E) Results and Discussion

 The buoyant forces and the densities of the cylinders are calculated in the three methods i.e.
overflow method, direct measurement of mass method and displacement method, which
significantly yield more or less the same result. That was because we measured the masses of
the metals only once. The most interesting part of this laboratory experiment is that we found
the results more or less consistent to each other, no matter how many trials we had taken.

F) Conclusion

 The buoyant force: -

i. In the overflow and displacement method has a mean value of 0.019 N for Aluminum
and 0.036N for Brass.
ii. In the direct measurement of mass method has a mean value of 0.019N and 0.043N for
Aluminum and Brass respectively.

 The density: -

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 Archimedes’ Principle

iv. In the overflow method, we calculated the density of aluminum with mean value of 2392
kg/m3 with a percentage error of 11.4% and the density of brass with mean value of 9483
kg/m3 with a percentage error of 12.6%.
v. In the direct measurement of mass method, we calculated the density of aluminum with
mean value of 2392 kg/m3 with a percentage error of 11.4% and the density of brass with
mean value of 9483 kg/m3 with a percentage error of 12.6%.
vi. In the displacement method, we calculated the density of aluminum with mean value of
2392 kg/m3 with a percentage error of 11.4% and the density of brass with mean value of
9483 kg/m3 with a percentage error of 12.6%.

G) Solutions or Answers

9)Solutions or Answers

1. Sketch a free-body diagram for an object that is floating in water. How much water does it
displace? Does it displace its volume in water? Does it displace its weight in water?

Buoyant force

Free body diagram 1.0

Weight of the object

 An object floating in water displaces the volume of water to the extent in which is
submerged. If the object is floating entirely above the water, it displaces no volume of water.
A floating object does not always displace its weight in water.

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 Archimedes’ Principle

2. Sketch a free-body diagram for an object that is submerged in water. How much water does it
displace? Does it displace its volume in water? Does it displace its weight in water?

Buoyant force

Weight of the object

 An object submerged in water displaces the volume of water which is equal to the volume of
itself. If the object is sunk entirely in the water, it displaces volume of water which is equal in
magnitude to the weight of itself.

3. A nugget gold and a block of Aluminum of the same volume are immersed in water. Which
object experiences the greater buoyant force?

 As the fluid is the same (water) and their volumes are equal, the buoyant force they
experience is the same according to the formula:

Fb = ρwVdisp g

4. A ship made of steel (ρsteel=7.8 X 103 kg/m3) will float in water. Explain, in terms of
densities, how it is possible.

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 Archimedes’ Principle

 For the ship to float, its weight, which is the product of its density, its volume and
acceleration due to gravity, must equal the buoyant force, which in turn, is equal to the
weight of the displaced fluid, which is the product of the density of the water, the volume of
the displaced water and acceleration due to gravity. This means: -

Fb = W ship

ρwaterVdispg = ΡshipVshipg

 But the most interesting point is that, ρsteel = 7.8 X 103 kg/m3 is just the density of steel, not
the density of the ship at all. The overall density of the ship must be less than that of water.

5. A ship at a sea port is taken out of water. Does the water at the shore rise, fall or stay at the
same level? Explain, in terms of Archimedes' principle (density, volume or weight) why this
happens.

 When the ship was above the sea, the water it displaced was moved to the shore. When it is
taken out of the sea, the displaced water attains its former place. So the water level in the
shore falls.

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