Department of Mathematics

Faculty Science and Mathematics

SSI 3013
Information and Communication Technology in Science
Assignment 2: Data Logging (Archimedes principle)
Student Name & Matric Number 1. Mohamad Saharudin Bin Zakaria
D20171078230
2. Nurul Qasrina Binti Rosli
D20171078247
3. Nur Alia Farhana Binti Mohd Sabri
D20171078234
Lecturer’s Name Encik Azmi Bin Ibrahim
Class Group B
Assignment Group A

List of Content
No. Content Pages
1 Introduction of data logging 1
2 Archimedes principle 2
3 Engage 2-3
4 Empower 4-8
5 Enhance 8-9
6 Extension 9-10
7 Unique features of this activity 10
8 Conclusion 10
9 References 11
1. INTRODUCTION OF DATA LOGGING

Data logging is the process of using a computer to collect data through sensors, analyse
the data and save and output the results of the collection and analysis. It implies the control of
how the computer collects and analyses the data. It is commonly used in scientific experiments
and in monitoring systems where there is the need to collect information faster than a human
can possibly collect the information and in cases where accuracy is essential.

Data logger is a self-contained unit that does not require a host to operate. It can be
installed in almost any location, and left to operate unattended. Data loggers have a distinct
advantage over conventional interface devices, in that they operate in this stand-alone mode,
and yet have the capability to transfer the data to a host system, if required. Most data loggers
have the ability to work similarly to standard recorders, in that they provide the user with a
hard copy printout of the data recorded. This data can be immediately analysed for trends, or
stored for historical archive purposes. Data loggers can also monitor for alarm conditions, while
recording a minimum number of samples, for economy. If the recording is of a stead-state
nature, without rapid changes, the user may go through rolls of paper, without seeing a single
change in the input. A data logger can record at very long intervals, saving paper, and can note
when an alarm condition is occurring. A record of all significant conditions and events is
generated using a minimum of recording hardcopy. A data logger is an attractive alternative to
either a recorder or data acquisition system in many applications.

When compared to a recorder, data loggers have the ability to accept greater number of
input channels, with better resolution and accuracy. Also, data loggers usually have some form
of on-board intelligence, which provides the user with diverse capabilities. For example, raw
data can be analysed to give flow rates, differential temperatures, and other interpreted data
that otherwise would require manual analysis by the operator. The major difference between a
data logger and a recorder, however, is the way the data itself is stored, analysed and recorded.
In our daily life, there are a lots of application of data logging. For the example, unattended
weather station recording which measure the wind speed and direction, temperature, relative
humidity and solar radiation. Data logging also can be used in water level monitoring for
groundwater studies and measure variations light intensity. Data logger also can be divided as
black-box loggers, health data loggers and other general data acquisition loggers.

1
2. ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE

Archimedes’ principle, physical law of buoyancy stating that any body completely or partially
submerged in a fluid (gas or liquid) at rest is acted upon by an upward, or buoyant, force, the
magnitude of which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body. The volume of
displaced fluid is equivalent to the volume of an object fully immersed in a fluid or to that
fraction of the volume below the surface for an object partially submerged in a liquid. The
weight of the displaced portion of the fluid is equivalent to the magnitude of the buoyant force.
Buoyancy force is: F = ρ. g. V, where ρ is the density of fluid (water), g is gravity, and V is
volume which is drowned. The buoyant force on a body floating in a liquid or gas is also
equivalent in magnitude to the weight of the floating object and is opposite in direction; the
object neither rises nor sinks. For example, a ship that is launched sinks into the ocean until the
weight of the water it displaces is just equal to its own weight. As the ship is loaded, it sinks
deeper, displacing more water, and so the magnitude of the buoyant force continuously matches
the weight of the ship and its cargo.

Figure 1: Direction of buoyant force

3. ENGAGE

Brainstorming:

Have you ever seen one of those giant cruise ships? Or a cargo ship piled high with containers?
Or perhaps even an aircraft carrier covered with jet planes? How are these huge ships able to
float on water? Water is much less dense than the steel these ships are made of. So why aren’t
these ships sinking to the bottom of the harbour? How do buoyancy and density apply to ships?

2
 Figure 2: Ships with loads and without loads float on water

How can this principle be applied to ships? Ships are enormous steel vessels. A ship
can have a mass of hundreds of thousands of tonnes. Steel is much denser than water, so you
would think that massive steel ships would sink, right? Well, think again! What helps keep
ships afloat is their shape and what is inside them. Ships are not solid pieces of steel. Instead,
they are mostly hollowed-out shells of steel. There are all sorts of components inside the ship.
For example the ship’s engine, fuel, and cargo may be inside. But most importantly, there is
air inside a ship!

The air that is inside a ship is much less dense than water. That’s what keeps it floating!
The average density of the total volume of the ship and everything inside of it (including the
air) must be less than the same volume of water. As a ship is set in water, it pushes down and
displaces an amount of water equal to its weight. The closer the total density of the ship is to
the density of the same volume of water, the greater the amount of the ship that will be in the
water. If the average density of the ship is ever greater than the density of water, then the ship
will sink beneath the surface of the water.

When a ship sinks, it is because water enters the ship. This forces out the air, making
the average density of the ship greater than that of the water. One of the most famous disasters
is the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The ship struck an iceberg off the south coast of
Newfoundland in April of 1912. The iceberg tore open several small holes in the hull of the
ship, letting water into the bow. As more water entered the ship, the air was forced out. This
caused the ship to sink to the bottom of the ocean.

3
4. EMPOWER

Planning and doing an experiment:

Title: Archimedes’ Principle

Objectives:

Students explore the relationship between the volume of fluid that a submerged object displaces
and the buoyant force experienced by that submerged object. Through this process, students
discover:

 The sum of the forces equals zero if the object is not accelerating
 Water provides an upward buoyant force on submerged objects
 That forces are responsible for some objects sinking and other objects floating
Procedure:

PART I: SET UP

1. Start a new experiment on the data collection system.

2. Connect the force sensor to the data collection system.
3. Display force (pull positive, or inverted) in a digits display.
4. Attach the force sensor to the rod stand using a short rod and the right angle clamp.
5. Press the “zero” button on the force sensor.
6. Place the overflow can below the force sensor.
7. Tie a loop of string to the object, long enough to allow the object to be submerged
completely in the overflow can when hung and lowered from the force sensor.
8. Place a dry cup (catch basin) under the spout of the overflow can.
9. Fill the overflow can with water to the limit.

4
PART II: COLLECT DATA

1. Use the balance to measure the mass of the empty cup (catch basin) in kg, record the mass
of the cup in Table 1, and then replace the cup in its original position.
2. Measure the mass of the object you will submerge in the water in kg, and record the mass
of the object in Table 1.
3. Use your ruler to measure the dimensions of your object, use your knowledge of geometry
to calculate its volume, and then record the volume in Table 1.
4. Begin monitoring force with your data collection system.
5. Use the string loop to hang the object from the force sensor hook. Make certain the object
is not swinging before recoding data, and then record the force exerted by gravity on the
object in Table 1.
6. Loosen the thumbscrew that holds the right angle clamp to the rod stand, and slowly lower
the object into the overflow can. Displaced water from the overflow will pour onto the
empty cup (catch basin).
7. Tighten the thumbscrew to hold the object fully submerged, but not touching the bottom
of the can.
8. Record the new “resultant” force measurement in Table 1.
9. Use the balance to measure the mass of the cup (catch basin) and water that has overflowed
from the can, and record the mass in Table 1.
10. Use the graduated cylinder to measure the volume of the water that has overflowed from
the can, and record the volume in Table 1.

PART III: ANALYSE DATA

If the mass of the object does not change when it is submerged, but the net force does, we must
be observing the action of a second force on the object. This force is called Buoyant Force. The
force on the submerged object is the resultant of the vector addition of the force of gravity and
the buoyant force acting on the object.

5
1. Calculate the mass of the displaced water in kilograms by subtracting the mass of the
empty cup from the mass of the displaced water and cup together, and record the mass in
Table 1.
2. Calculate the weight of the water in newtons by multiplying the mass of the water by the
acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2), and record the weight in Table 1.
3. Calculate the buoyant force by subtracting the force on the submerged object from the
force due to gravity, and record the force in Table 1.
4. Calculate the density of your object from the measured mass and volume, and record the
mass in Table 1.
5. Repeat the Collect Data and Analyse Data steps for a second object that has a different
mass and record the results in Table 1.

Sample Data:

Weight of Weight of
aluminium in air copper in water
(N) (N)

6
Data Analysis:

Table 1: Object buoyancy data

Parameters Object 1 Object 2

Object Copper Aluminium
Mass of the empty cup (kg) 0.006 kg 0.006 kg
Mass of the object (kg) 0.186 kg 0.193 kg
Volume of the object (cm3) 21.2 cm3 73.7 cm3
Force of gravity on the object (N) 1.823 N 1.892 N
Resultant force on submerged object (N) 1.598 N 1.156 N
Mass of cup and water displaced by the object (kg) 0.029 kg 0.081 kg
Volume of water displaced by the object (cm3) 22.9 cm3 75.0 cm3
Mass of the water displaced by the object (kg) 0.023 kg 0.075 kg
Weight of the water displaced (N) 0.225 N 0.736 N
Buoyant force (N) –0.225 N –0.736 N
Density of water (kg/cm3) 0.001 kg/cm3 0.001 kg/cm3
Density of the object(kg/cm3) 0.00877 kg/cm3 0.00262 g/cm3

Discussion :

In this experiment, we study about the relationship between the volume of fluid that a
submerged object displaces and the buoyant force experienced by that submerged object..
Archimedes principle says that the buoyant force on a submerged object is equal to the weight
of the fluid it displaces. Thus, in short, buoyancy = weight of displaced fluid. This principle is
useful for determining the volume and therefore the density of an irregularly shaped object by
measuring its mass in air and its effective mass when submerged in water (density = 1 g/cm3).
This effective mass under water will be its actual mass minus the mass of the fluid displaced.
The difference between the real and effective mass therefore gives the mass of water displaced
and allows the calculation of the volume of the irregularly shaped object. The mass divided by
the volume thus determined gives a measure of the average density of the object. Buoyancy
shows that the buoyant force on a volume of water and a submerged object of the same volume
is the same. Since it exactly supports the volume of water, it follows that the buoyant force on
any submerged object is equal to the weight of the water displaced.

7
Based on the result of the experiment, we can see that as the mass of the object increase the
volume of the fluid displaced also increase. This means that the buoyant force is also increase
since the formula for the buoyancy is equal to the weight of displaced fluid. The mass of the
object is greater than the mass of the water it displaces. The volume of water is a bit similar to
the volume of the object. The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the water displaced by
the object which supports the theory of Archimedes’ Principle. Moreover, the density of the
object is greater than the density of the water.

Questions :

1. Compare the mass of the object to the mass of the displaced water.

2. Compare the volume of the object to the volume of the displaced water.

3. Compare the buoyant force to the weight of the water displaced.

4. Compare the density of the object to the density of water.

5. Archimedes’ Principle of Floating Objects is as follows:

The buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the displaced fluid.

How do your results compare to this statement?

6. Based on the results, what can you conclude the relationship between the volume of fluid
that a submerged object displaces and the buoyant force experienced by that submerged object.

7. Do your results support the Archimedes’ Principle?

Conclusion :

In conclusion, the volume of water that has the same weight as the object is displaced by an
object that floats. If it sinks, a quantity of water that has less weight than the object is displaced.

5. ENHANCE

In our everyday lives, the use of buoyant strength plays an important role. Discuss how the
Archimedes’ Principle related in the buoyancy manipulating for submarine?

The submarine operates using the Archimedes' principle by manipulating the buoyancy. The
ballast tank system controls the buoyancy. There is a positive buoyancy for a submarine

8
floating on the surface, which ensures it is less dense than the water surrounding it and can
float. The ballast tanks are mostly full of air at this time. The submarine must have negative
buoyancy to submerge. The ballast tanks' vents are open. Seawater entering through the flood
ports causes the vents to air out, and the submarine starts to sink. The submarine ballast tanks
that are now loaded with sea water are denser than the water around them. By changing the
water to air ratio in the ballast tanks, the exact depth can be controlled. Submerged in, the
submarine is able to maintain neutral buoyancy. That implies that the submarine's weight is
equal to the amount of water it displaces. In this condition, the submarine will neither rise nor
sink. Compressed air is simply blown into the tanks, forcing out the seawater, to make the
submarine rise again. The positive buoyancy of the submarine becomes less dense than the
water and increases.

6. EXTENSION

In our daily life, we don’t see any ship sailing at the river because when the ship sails across
the river it will sink but why it does not sink at the sea? Plan and carry out an experiment to
find out the reason. Student may use the wooden block with the same mass and different source
of water which is from sea water and river water. Observe the different and justify the answer
for the question.

Liquid 1: River Water Liquid 2: Sea Water

Same block for Jar 1 and Jar 2

Noted: The density of the sea water is higher than the density of river water

Based on the picture above, explain why the block in jar 1 is submerge deeper than the block
in jar 2? Explain how the density of liquid affect the buoyant force?

9
Density plays a crucial role in Archimedes’ principle. The average density of an object is what
ultimately determines whether it floats. If its average density is less than that of the surrounding
fluid, it will float. This is because the fluid, having a higher density, contains more mass and
thus more weight in the same volume. The buoyant force, which equals the weight of the fluid
displaced, is thus greater than the weight of the object. Likewise, an object denser than the fluid
will sink. The extent to which a floating object is submerged depends on how the object’s
density is related to that of the fluid.

7. UNIQUE FEATURES OF THIS ACTIVITY

 Independent data logging. Student’s just need to record the data and do not have to do
it manually
 Repetition of activity can also be carried out due to the quick completion for each type
of objects used in this experiment.
 The learning process becomes more meaningful. Less work need to be done by the
students; this enable experiment to be done in a small group.
 Buoyant force must equal to the weight of the displaced fluid.
 A solid object would float if the density of the solid object were less than the density of
the fluid and vice versa.

8. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, data logger is a device that gives a lot of benefits that can enhance the academic
performance of students especially in Science subject that can improve our country education
system. Science subject are common with practical work in laboratory whereas this devices
can help in get the accuracy specifications and good understanding on the experiment that had
been carried out. Data logger also a stand-alone device that can read various types of electrical
signals and store the data in internal memory for later download to a computer. The advantage
of data loggers is that they can operate independently of a computer, unlike many other types
of data acquisition devices. Data loggers are available in various shapes and sizes. The range
includes simple economical single channel fixed function loggers to more powerful
programmable devices capable of handling hundreds of inputs. Data logger will give the better
understanding of Science concept to students and also increase their interest in doing scientific
experiment.

10
9. REFERENCE

Archimedes' Principle. (2020). In 1024935117 786810275 P. (Ed.), Physical Science

Through Inquiry Teacher Guide (pp. 269-278). PASCO. Retrieved November 3, 2020, from
https://d2n0lz049icia2.cloudfront.net/lab_experiment/c_14/PS-2843B-17.pdf

Britannica. (2020, May 29). Archimedes' principle. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/science/Archimedes-principle

Daniel Lawrence. (2020, January 28). An Integrated Sensor Data Logging, Survey, and
Analytics Platform for Field Research and Its Application in HAPIN, a Multi-Center
Household Energy Intervention Trial. Retrieved from
file:///C:/Users/USER/Downloads/sustainability-12-01805-v3%20(1).pdf

McDonald, A. (2019, September 24). Why do Ships Float? Retrieved November 03,
2020, from https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/stem-in-context/why-do-ships-
float

11