Buoyancy and floating – compare and explore
Integrated ScienceForces & MotionAges 13–14
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Sign in to playDrop blocks into a tank of liquid to see three forces acting together: the weight P, the upthrust F_A = d·V_sub (Archimedes' principle), and the normal force N from the bottom of the tank when a block rests on it. The Compare screen sets two blocks side by side with the same mass, the same volume or the same density so you can find which quantity decides floating or sinking; the Explore screen lets you choose any material and liquid and read the upthrust and the tank's water level directly. Based on the "Buoyancy: Basics" simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder (CC BY 4.0); rewritten.
Lesson: Upthrust and Archimedes' principle
How to use
Parameters you can change
- Screen Compare, Explore
- Liquid Petrol (700 kg/m³), Cooking oil (920 kg/m³), Water (1000 kg/m³), Seawater (1030 kg/m³), Honey (1420 kg/m³), Mercury (13600 kg/m³)
- Comparison mode (Compare screen) Same mass, Same volume, Same density
- Block A material (Explore screen) Foam (150 kg/m³), Wood (800 kg/m³), Ice (920 kg/m³), PVC plastic (1380 kg/m³), Brick (2000 kg/m³), Aluminium (2700 kg/m³), Iron (7800 kg/m³), Custom
- Block B material (Explore screen) Foam (150 kg/m³), Wood (800 kg/m³), Ice (920 kg/m³), PVC plastic (1380 kg/m³), Brick (2000 kg/m³), Aluminium (2700 kg/m³), Iron (7800 kg/m³), Custom
- Volume of block A 1–10 L
- Volume of block B 1–10 L
- Show block B (Explore screen)
- Show force values (N) next to arrows
