Buoyancy Calculator
Calculate the buoyant force acting on an object submerged in a fluid.
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Table of Contents
Buoyancy Formula
Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by a fluid on an object immersed in it. This force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
Where:
- Fb = Buoyant force (N)
- ρ = Fluid density (kg/m³)
- V = Volume of displaced fluid (m³)
- g = Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s²)
How to Calculate
To calculate buoyant force, follow these steps:
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1Measure the volume of the submerged object
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2Determine the density of the fluid
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3Multiply the volume by the fluid density and gravitational acceleration
Common Densities
Common densities of materials (kg/m³):
- Water: 1000
- Aluminum: 2700
- Steel: 7850
- Wood (pine): 500
- Air: 1.225
Density can vary with temperature and pressure. The values given are at standard temperature and pressure (STP).
Practical Examples
Example 1 Wooden Block
Calculate the buoyant force on a wooden block (0.1 m³) floating in water.
V = 0.1 m³
ρ = 1000 kg/m³
g = 9.81 m/s²
Fb = 1000 × 0.1 × 9.81 = 981 N
Example 2 Steel Ball
Calculate the buoyant force on a steel ball (0.001 m³) submerged in water.
V = 0.001 m³
ρ = 1000 kg/m³
g = 9.81 m/s²
Fb = 1000 × 0.001 × 9.81 = 9.81 N