Kana Al-Jalil School

Name: .
Archimedes up-thrust
Chapter :15 Date: 18/5/2012

Exercise 1: Determination of the density of an alcohol
In order to determine the density of an alcohol, we take a solid (S) suspended from the free end of a
spring balance, and two containers: one containing water and the other alcohol. Take g = 10 N/kg.
I- Real weight of (S)
(S) is in equilibrium in air. The spring balance indicates 8 N.
This indication represents the value P of the real weight of (S). Why?
II- Volume of (S)
We immerse (S) completely in water of density = 1000 kg/m
3
. (fig. 1).
The spring balance then indicates 7 N.
1) What does the indication of the spring balance represent?
2) Calculate the value F of the Archimedes up thrust exerted by
water on (S).
3) Deduce the volume V of (S).
III- Density of the alcohol
Now, (S) is completely immersed in alcohol (fig. 2). The spring balance
indicates in this case 7.2 N.
1) Calculate the value F' of Archimedes up thrust exerted by the alcohol on (S).
2) Deduce the value ' of the density of this alcohol.

Exercise 2: Density and flotation
The object of this exercise is to study the influence of the density of a liquid on the flotation of a solid
immersed in this liquid.
In order to do this, we consider a solid cube (S), of mass m = 0.9 kg and of side a = 10 cm.
Given: g = 10 N/kg.
I- Characteristics of (S)
1) Verify that the volume of (S) is V = 10
-3
m
3
.
2) Deduce that the density of (S) is 900 kg/m
3
.
3) Calculate the weight W of (S).
II- (S) is in oil
We immerse (S) completely in oil of density 800
1
kg/m
3
.
1) Calculate the value F
1
of the Archimedes up thrust exerted by oil on (S).
2) By comparing W and F
1
, deduce that the solid sinks to the bottom of the liquid container.
III- (S) is in water
We repeat the experiment by immersing (S) completely in water of density 1000
2
kg/m
3
.
1) Calculate the value F
2
of the Archimedes up thrust exerted by water on (S).
2) Deduce that the solid (S) floats on the surface of water.
IV- Condition for flotation
By comparing
1
and
2
to , Give the condition that must be satisfied by the density of a solid and the
density of a liquid for a solid to float on the surface of the liquid.

Exercise 3: Floating objects
Is it easier to swim in the fresh water of a lake or in sea water?
To answer this question, we perform the two following experiments with a solid (S) of mass m = 2 kg.
Given: g =10 N/kg .
A. First experiment
(S) floats at the surface of the water of the lake of density 1000 kg/m
3
.
1. What condition must the two forces acting on (S) satisfy so that it floats at the surface of
water?
2. Calculate the value of the weight of (S). Deduce the value of Archimedes up thrust.
3. Calculate the volume V
1
of the immersed part of (S).
B. Second experiment
(S) floats at the surface of sea water of density 1040

kg/m
3

1. Archimedes up thrust remains the same. Why?
2. Calculate the volume V
2
of the immersed part of (S).
C. Answer for the question
Knowing that swimming is easier when the immersed volume of the floating object decreases, is
it easier to swim in the fresh water of a lake or in the sea water? Why?

Exercise 4: Hollow sphere
The aim of this exercise is to determine experimentally the volume of the cavity of an iron sphere (S).
Given g = 10 N/kg.
1) First experiment
We attach (S) to a dynamometer (spring balance). The dynamometer indicates 7.8 N at equilibrium.
a) Name the two forces acting on (S).
b) Give the relation between the values of these forces. Deduce the mass of (S).
c) Calculate the volume V
1
of iron. Given: The density of iron = 7800 kg/m
3
.
2) Second experiment
The sphere (S), still attached to the same dynamometer, is completely immersed in water.
The dynamometer indicates 6.3 N.
a) What is the value of the apparent weight of (S)? Deduce the value F of Archimedes up-thrust
exerted by water on (S).
b) Determine the volume V
2
of the sphere (S). Given: The density of water =1000 kg/m
3
.
3) Volume of the cavity
a) By comparing V
1
and V
2
, verify that the sphere (S) is hollow.
b) Calculate the volume V of the cavity.

Exercise 5:Icebergs
An iceberg is a huge block of ice that floats on the surface of water. In order to show the danger of icebergs
in marine navigation, we take a piece of ice of mass 0.135 kg and of volume V = 1.5 x 10
-4
m
3
and a
container with a sufficient amount of water of density 1000 kg/m
3
. Take g = 10 N/kg.
1. We immerse the piece of ice completely in water and we release it.
a) Name the two forces acting on the piece of ice in water
b) Give the line of action and the direction of each of the two forces.
c) Determine the value of each force.
d) The piece of ice starts rising in water. Why?
2. The piece of ice floats in equilibrium on the surface of water.
a) Give the condition of equilibrium of the piece of ice.
b) Determine the volume V
1
of the immersed part of the piece of ice.
3. a) Calculate the ratio V
1
/V.
b) The ratio V
1
/V

shows an evidence of the danger of icebergs. Explain why.