Name Date Class

Key Concept Builder LESSON 2

The Buoyant Force

Key Concept How does Archimedes’ principle describe the buoyant force?
Directions: On the line before each statement, write T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false. If the
statement is false, change the underlined word(s) to make it true. Write your changes on the lines provided. Use the
diagram to answer numbers 1 through 5.

1. Archimedes’ principle states that a buoyant force on an object is equal to the

volume of the fluid that the object displaces.

2. As the diagram shows, the weight of the water displaced by the balloon is
greatest among the three different balls.

3. The buoyant force does not depend on an object’s depth in a fluid.

4. The diagram shows that the balloon has greater mass than the tennis ball or
billiard ball.

5. According to Archimedes’ principle, the balloon has the greatest buoyant

force because it displaces the most water.

6. As the diagram shows, the buoyant force depends on an object’s weight.

7. Concerning buoyant forces, it is important to remember that the

greater the volume of an object is, the more it weighs.

8. The buoyant force of an object does not change as the object moves deeper
into a fluid.

Forces and Fluids 35

Name Date Class

Key Concept Builder LESSON 2

The Buoyant Force

Key Concept What makes an object sink or float in a fluid?
Directions: Put a check mark in the column to show if the object described will sink or float.

Object Sink Float

1. a ball that weighs the same as the water it displaces when it

is placed in the water

2. an anchor whose density is greater than the density of water

3. a ship that has greater mass per volume than water

4. a toy boat that has a buoyant force that is less than the toy
boat’s weight

5. a helium balloon whose density is less than the density of

the air around it

6. a bath toy filled with air and placed in a bathtub filled with
water and floating soap bubbles

7. a boat filled with sand that has a weight equal to the weight
of the water it displaces

8. a balloon whose volume decreases to a point that its density

is greater than the air around it

9. a parade balloon that has a buoyant force acting on it that is

equal to the balloon’s weight

10. a boat whose weight and the buoyant force acting on it are
in balance

Forces and Fluids 37