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Buoyancy
When will objects float and when will they sink? Learn how buoyancy works with blocks. Arrows show the applied forces, and you can modify the properties of the blocks and the fluid.
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Teaching Resources
Main Topics
- Buoyancy
- Density
Sample Learning Goals
- Predict whether an object will sink or float when placed in a liquid, given densities of the object and liquid
- Apply the definition of density to both liquids and solids
- Relate the buoyant force on an object to the weight of liquid it displaces
- Describe how the buoyant force is related to an object's relative density to the fluid
- Predict the weight of a completely or partially submerged object of known mass and volume
- Describe the forces that act on a completely or partially submerged object
- Explain how an object that is more dense than water can be kept afloat by placing it on an object that is less dense than water
Tips for Teachers
The teacher's guide (pdf) contains tips created by the PhET team.
Teaching Ideas
| Title | Authors | Level | Type | Updated |
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Buoyancy: How Does Buoyant Force Act on Objects in a Fluid?
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Trish Loeblein | HS UG-Intro |
Lab | 7/5/13 |
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Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based)
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Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
CQs Demo Lab HW |
7/20/13 |
| Fluids Lab | Travis Brown | HS | Lab | 5/9/13 |
| Buoyancy Lab | Jeremy Wegner | HS MS |
Lab HW |
10/4/12 |
| Pool Cubes 2 - Buoyancy | Dean Baird, Paul G. Hewitt | UG-Intro HS |
Lab | 6/16/11 |
| Buoyancy and Density | Jared Schmidt | MS HS |
Lab | 1/3/11 |
| Principio de Arquimedes | daniel cruz ochoa | MS | Lab | 9/16/13 |
You can submit your own ideas and activities.
Related Simulations
Translated Versions:
Software Requirements
| Windows | Macintosh | Linux |
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Microsoft Windows
XP/Vista/7 Macromedia Flash 9 or later |
OS 10.5 or later
Macromedia Flash 9 or later |
Macromedia Flash 9 or later |
Credits
| Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
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