Floatation

How does a boat or ship carrying hundreds of pounds

worth of stuff float while that stuff would sink to the
bottom of the ocean if dumped overboard? How
come when you're in a pool and you stretch your
body out flat you float, but, if you wrap your arms
around your legs and curl up in to a ball you sink? You
will be able to give answer to these questions after
reading this chapter. When we press a drawing pin, we apply force in the
perpendicular direction
Thrust
Pressure
Thrust is the force acting perpendicular on a surface.
It is a vector quantity and is measured in the unit of The thrust per unit area is called pressure. The effect
force, i.e. newton (N). of thrust depends on the area on which it acts
When an object is placed on a horizontal surface, it Thrust
exerts a thrust equal to its weight on the surface. The Pressure 
Area
object will exert the same thrust irrespective of its The unit of pressure is newton per metre square or
orientation. N m 2 . This unit has also been given a special name
pascal (Pa) in honour of the scientist Blaise Pascal.
One pascal is defined as the pressure exerted on a
surface of area 1 m2 by a thrust 1 N acting normally on
it.
Pa is a very small unit. Therefore pressure is usually
expressed in kilopascal (kPa).
When an object is placed in a liquid or a gas, the force 1 kPa  1000 Pa  1000 N m2
exerted by the liquid on any point of the object is Pressure is a scalar quantity.
perpendicular to the surface of the object. The force
exerted by the liquid on the walls of the container is
also perpendicular to the walls at all the points. That
is why the force exerted by a liquid on an object
immersed in it and on the walls of the container is
called the thrust.
Let us do one activity to understand pressure.
Examples (i) : If we stand on loose sand then we will Make a slab of clay. Place metal rod on it and apply
observe that our feet go deep into the sand. Why does some force. You will find the rod to pierce inside the
this happen? It is because of our body weight. We slab to an appreciable depth. In the second case,
have learn that weight is the force acting vertically place a coin on the slab and try to apply the same
downwards. Here, the force is acting perpendicular to amount of force. This time the coin will not pierce to
the surface of the sand. the same depth. The reason again is pressure. If the
(ii): We want to fix a poster on a bulletin board with same force is applied on less contact area (Case a),
the help of drawing pins as shown in figure. We press the pressure is more which caused the clay slab to
a drawing pin with our thumb. Here, when we press a yield (deform). But if the contact area is more/ then
drawing pin, we apply a force on the surface area of pressure is less and the slab deforms to a lesser extent
its head. This force is directed perpendicular to the (Case b).
surface area of the board.

2
 • The foundation of a building or a dam has a large
surface area so that the pressure exerted by it on
the ground is less. This is done to prevent the
sinking of the building or the dam into the ground.

Less area of contact leading to high pressure

• Nails and pins have pointed ends so that these

can be fixed with minimum force because the
Examples: A sharp knife cuts easily than a blunt knife pressure on the pointed ends would be large.
by applying the same force. If an elephant happens to • It is easier to cut with a sharp knife as compared
step on a man's chest, his ribs would crack. But a to a blunt knife. Area of contact of sharp knife is
circus performer saves himself from such an accident small these creating high pressure for a
by placing a large, light but strong wooden plank on particular amount of force applied.
his chest.

2. The pressure due to atmosphere is

1. A cubical block of edge 2 cm and of mass 5 kg 1.013 105 Pa . Find the force exerted by the
is kept on a table top. Calculate atmosphere on the top surface of a table 2.0
(a) the thrust of the block on the table top. m long and 1.0 m wide.
(b) the pressure of the block on the table top. Sol.: Here pressure due to the atmosphere,
Sol. Edge = side = 2 cm =
2
m  0.02 m P  1.013 105 Pa
100  1.013 105 N m2
(a) Thrust  mg  5  9.8  49 N Area on which atmospheric pressure acts,
Thrust A  2.0 m 1.0 m  2.0 m2
(b) Pressure 
Area Thus, force exerted by the atmosphere,
49 F  PA  (1.013 105 N m2 )  (2.0 m2 )
  1, 22 500 N m2
(0.02)  (0.02)
 2.026 105 N
2
 1.225 10 N m
5
or Pa
Fluid

Fluid is a substance which has no fixed shape and has

the ability to flow. All liquids and gases are regarded
as fluids.
Pressure in fluids: Whenever any pressure is applied
anywhere on a confined fluid, it is transmitted equally
in all directions throughout the fluid.
Important Aspects of Pressure

More area of contact leading to less pressure

• Sleepers are laid down under rails of train to
provide more area of contact and less pressure.
High pressure may cause the land to yield.
• A sleeping matters is so designed that when you
lie on it, a large area of your body comes in its
contact. This reduces the pressure on the body
and sleeping becomes comfortable.
3
The molecules of liquids and gases are in a state of Volume of the imaginary column of liquid.
random motion. When these molecules collide with V = Area of cross section  height
the walls of the container or with the surface of any V  ah ...(i)
object placed in it, the molecules suffer a change in Thrust at the base of the cylindrical column of liquid
momentum. Because of this change is momentum, = Weight of the liquid column
the molecules exert a force on the wall or surface. = Mass of the liquid column  g
This force exerted per unit area is called pressure  m g
exerted by fluids.  (V  d )  g ( m V  d)
Change in momentum  Pf  Pi Thrust  a  h  d  g (Using (i))
 m  (m )  2m Pressure exerted by the liquid at the depth h
The pressure is exerted normal to the surface. Thrust a  h  d  g

Area a
Hydrometer P  hdg

A direct-reading instrument used for measuring the

density or relative density of a liquid is called
hydrometer.

Principle of Hydrometer

(i) Hydrometer is based on the principle of floatation,

i.e., the weight of the liquid displaced by the (i) Pressure exerted by a liquid at a point inside it is
immersed portion of the hydrometer is equal to the directly proportional to its depth, density and
weight of the hydrometer. acceleration due to gravity.
(ii) Hydrometer is a glass instrument. It consists of a (ii) All points at the same depth in a liquid are under
cylindrical bulb having a spherical bulb at its lower the same pressure.
end and a long stem (narrow tube) at its upper end. (iii) Pressure at a point due to the liquid on the surface
The lower spherical bulb is partially filled with lead of the liquid is zero as height = 0. So, hdg  0 .
shots. This helps hydrometer to float (or stand) (iv) Pressure due to the liquid is not affected by the
vertical in liquids. shape and size of the container (in which the liquid is
The stem has markings so that relative density of a contained).
liquid can be read off directly. The hydrometer is
placed in the liquid taken in a glass jar. The reading
against the level of liquid gives the relative density of
the liquid.
• Expression for pressure exerted by a liquid at a
point inside it:
Suppose a beaker is filled with liquid having density d, Lifting of a bucket of water from a well.
imagine a cylindrical column of liquid with a cross Take an empty bucket and tie it to a long rope.
sectional area a at level B and at the depth h below Immerse the bucket in the well keeping one end of
the surface of the liquid. the rope in your hand. Lift the bucket full water. You
will notice that it easy to lift the bucket as long as it
4
immersed in water as the bucket appears less heavy. • Hydraulic press or Brahmah press
As soon as the bucket is pulled out of the surface of (a) It is used to compress bales of cotton and straw.
water, you will fell it becomes much heavier and (b) It is used to compress oil seeds for getting oil.
difficult to lift. It consists of a cylinder that contains two pistons, one
smaller than the other. The cylinder is filled with a
fluid. A force applied to the smaller piston is
transferred through the fluid to the larger piston.
W
Let pressure acting on smaller piston be P1  1 and
a
3. A solid body of mass 150 g and volume W
250 cm3 is put in water. Will the body float or on a larger piston be P2  2
A
sink?
Sol.: Here, mass of the body, M = 150 g
Volume of the body, V  250 cm3
Density of the body,
M 150 g
d   0.6 g / cm3
V 250 cm3
Since the density of the body (0.6 g / cm3 ) is Since pressure is transmitted equally in all the
less than the density of water (1 g / cm3 ) , the directions
body will float on water. W W A
P1  P2  1  2  W2  W1
a A a
• Total pressure at a point in a liquid: So in a hydraulic press we can multiply a small thrust
Total pressure at a point (B) = Atmospheric pressure applied into a big thrust, by making the ratio of area
on liquid surface PA  pressure in the liquid at a of cross section very large.
depth x due to liquid column (fluid pressure) above
the point B. Atmospheric Pressure
Total pressure = Atmospheric pressure + fluid
pressure  PA  hdg  PA  xdg The thick blanket of air covering the entire earth's
surface is called atmosphere. The pressure exerted by
these atmospheric gases on its surroundings and on
the surface of the earth is known as atmospheric
pressure.
The instrument used for measuring atmospheric
pressure is known as barometer.
1 atm is the pressure exerted by a vertical column of
mercury of 76 cm (or 760 mm) height.
 1 atm  76 cm 13.6 g cm3  9.8 m s 2 (using hdg
Pascal’s law – Transmission of Fluid Pressure for pressure exerted by a liquid)
 0.76 m 13.6103 kg m3  9.8 m s 2
An increase in pressure at any point inside a liquid at
rest, is transmitted equally and without any change, in  101292.8 N m2 1.013 105 Pa
all directions to every other point in the liquid. This is Other units usually used in measurement of pressure
known as Pascal's Law. are torr and bar
This law is useful in designing instruments like 1 torr = 1 mm of Hg, 1 bar = 105 Pa
Brahmah press, hydraulic press etc. It is the principle
in the development of hydraulic brakes, that are used
in automobiles. This law is also known as the law of
transmission of fluid pressure.

5
 Buoyancy or Upthrust Thus, larger the size or volume of the body
immersed in a fluid/ greater is the buoyant
force (or upthrust) acting on the body.
• Density of the fluid in which the body is
immersed. The buoyant force (or upthrust) is
directly proportional to the density of the fluid
in which the body is immersed. That is,
Buoyant force (or upthrust)  Density of the
(a) A cork held below (b) On releasing, the cork fluid in which it is immersed
the surface of water rises to the surface of water Thus, greater is the density of the fluid in which
the body is immersed, greater is the buoyant
The tendency of a fluid to exert an upward force on a force acting on the body.
body immersed partly or wholly in it is called • Acceleration due to gravity at the place. The
buoyancy. The resultant upward force experienced by buoyant force (or upthrust) is directly
a body when immersed in a fluid is called buoyant proportional to the acceleration due to gravity
force B or FB or upthrust. at the place of measurement. That is,
Buoyant force (or upthrust)  Acceleration
due to gravity
Thus, a body when immersed in the same liquid
will experience lesser buoyant force on the
moon than on the earth.
• Temperature. The buoyant force (or upthrust) is
To measure the buoyant force. inversely proportional to the temperature of
Suspend a solid (viz., a stone, a metallic cylinder, etc.) the fluid in which the body is immersed. That is,
from a spring balance. This gives the weight of the Buoyant force (or upthrust)
solid in the air. Let it be W1 kilogram – force (W1 kg f ) 1

. Temperatureof thefluid
Now gently immerse the solid into water taken in a This is because an increase in temperature
beaker. Note the reading on the spring balance. This decreases density of the fluid.
reading gives the weight of the solid immersed in
water. Let it be W2 kilogram – force (W2 kgf ) .
Compare the two readings. What do you find? The
second reading is lesser than the first reading, that is
W2  W1
Thus weight of the solid in water is less than that in
the air. This loss in the weight of the solid is equal to Gases also exert buoyant force. But the magnitude of
the buoyant force exerted by water on solid. So the buoyant force exerted by gases is much smaller
Buoyant force exerted by water on the solid than that exerted by liquids.
 W1 kg f  W2 kg f  (W1  W2 ) kg f
Cause of Buoyant Force
Factors affecting buoyancy
To understand why liquids exert an upward buoyant
The magnitude of buoyant force depends upon the force, let us consider a mug filled with water
following factors: immersed in a bucket containing water as shown in
• Size or volume of the body immersed in a fluid. figure. Water exerts force on the sides of the mug as
The buoyant force is directly proportional to the well as on its top and bottom. The sideways forces
size or volume of the body immersed in a fluid. exerted by water on the mug, being equal and
That is, opposite, cancel out. Now, there is a force of water
Buoyant force (or upthrust) °e Volume of the acting on the top of the mug (the downward
body immersed in a fluid direction), and a force of water acting on the bottom
of the mug in the upward direction.
6
 It is known that the The quantity Vd is equal to the mass of the liquid
pressure exerted by a displaced by the block.
liquid increases with So,
depth and acts in all Resultant upward force exerted 
directions. Now, as the 
by tile liquid on the block 
top A of the mug is at a
lower depth in water it Mass of liquid  Weight of the liquid

experiences less force displaced  g  displaced by the block
downwards. The bottom The resultant upward force exerted by the liquid on
B of the mug is at a greater depth in water, so it the block is called the buoyant force or upthrust.
experiences more force in the upward direction. Thus, Therefore,
there is a net force on the mug in the upward Buoyant force (B or FB ) exerted by the liquid on the
direction. The net upward force on the mug is equal block
to the difference in the upward force acting on its = Weight of the liquid displaced by the block
bottom and the downward force acting on its top.
This net upward force acting on the mug is the Archimedes' Principle
buoyant force, we conclude that as we lower an
object into a liquid, the greater upward pressure of Archimedes' principle, states that when a body is
liquid underneath it provides an upward force called partially or wholly immersed in a fluid, it experiences
the buoyant force (or upthrust). an upthrust, which is equal to the weight of the fluid
displaced by the immersed part of the body.
Magnitude of the buoyant force
If you try to lift a large block of stone out of water,
you will notice that although it may be easily lifted
Consider a solid block ABCD inside the liquid. The while it is in water, it seems to become much heavier
liquid exerts pressure on all the sides of the block. as it comes out into the air.
Then, Pressure exerted by the liquid on face AD = Thus, the large block of stone appears to weight less
Pressure exerted by the liquid on face BC. in water than in air.
The top surface AB is pressed by the liquid column
AEFB. The bottom surface CD is pressed upwards by Points regarding Archimedes' principle as follows:
the weight of the liquid column DEFC. • When a body is immersed either partially or fully in
a liquid, it experiences an upthrust or buoyant force
( FB ) .

• This upthrust ( FB ) is equal to the weight (W1 ) of

the liquid displaced by the body,
i.e.. FB  W1  Vd1 g ...(i)
If a is the area of the faces AB and CD and d is the where d1 is the density of liquid in which the body is
density of the liquid. Then, immersed and V is the volume of the liquid displaced.
Total downward force on the face AB  ah1dg Clearly, FB depends upon: (i) volume of the liquid
Total upward force on face CD  ah2 dg displaced and (ii) density of the liquid.
Since h2 is greater than h1 , the upward force on the
• The body appears to lose weight while in the liquid
face CD is greater than the downward force on the and this apparent loss in weight is equal to the
face AB. Then upthrust or the weight of the liquid displaced by the
Resultant upward force exerted by the liquid on the body.
block
 ah2 dg  ah1dg  (h2  h1 )adg • Apparent weight of the body in the liquid = actual
The quantity a ( h2  h1 ) is equal to the volume (V) of weight of the body in air - weight of the liquid
the block So, Resultant upward force exerted by the displaced by the body.
liquid on the block  Vdg

7
 mass
i.e., density density 
volume
The S.I. unit of density is kg m~3 its CGS unit is g cm'3.
• Magnitude of buoyant force depends on the
Like liquids, gases also exhibit the property of density of the fluid in which the body is
buoyancy. Thus, if a body is immersed in a gas, it also immersed. If a body is put in water then three
experiences an upthrust. Thus, Archimedes, principle different situations arise.
is applicable to gases also, so we can, therefore, (i) If the density of the body is more than the
replace the word liquid by the more general term fluid density of water, the object will sink in water.
(i.e., a liquid or a gas) while stating this principle. (ii) If the density of the object is equal to the
density of water, the object will remain
Application of Archimedes' Principle submerged completely at any level in the water.
Some of the important application of Archimedes' (iii) If the density of the object is less than the
Principle are listed below: density of water the object will float on the
• Archimedes' principle is used for determining surface of water.
the density of liquids by using an instrument
called hydrometer. Relative Density
• Archimedes' principle is used to determine the
relative density of a substance. Relative density of a substance is defined as the ratio
• This principle is used in designing ships and of its density to that of water at 4°C.
submarines. i.e., Relative density (R.D.)
• This principle is used for checking the Density of substance

concentration of sulphuric acid in acid batteries Density of water at 4C
by using an instrument, called acid battery Relative density has no units as it is the ratio of
hydrometer. densities. Relative density is sometimes called specific
• Lactometers which are used to determine the gravity.
purity of a sample of milk are based on Significance of relative density
Archimedes principle. The relative density of a substance tells as by how
much its mass is more or less when compared to an
equal volume of water.
• If the relative density of a solid or liquid is more
than 1, then that substance will sink in water.
4. A body weights 500 gf in air and 300 gf • If the relative density of a solid or liquid is less
when completely immersed in water. Find (a) than 1, then that substance would float in
the apparent loss in the weight of the body, water.
(b) the upthrust on the body (c) the volume of
the body.
Sol.: Weight of the body in air W1  500 gf
Weight of the body in water W2  300 gf
(a) Loss in weight of the body  W1  W2
 500 gf  300 gf  200 gf 5. The mass of an empty bucket of capacity 10
(b) Upthrust on the body = Loss in weight of litres is 1 kg. find its mass when completely
the body  200 gf filled with a liquid of relative density 0.8.
Sol.: Here, mass the empty bucket,
(c) Volume of the body = Volume of the liquid
m  1 kg
displaced  200 cm3
Volume of the bucket,
V  10 litres  10 103 m3  102 m3
Density
Relative density of the liquid,
Density of a substance is defined as its mass per unit R.D. = 0.8
volume. (1 m3  103 litres)

8
 density of liquid The principle of floatation has several applications
As R.D.  ,
density of water (at 4o C ) • The modem day boats, ships, hulls and
d submarines are all designed keeping
0.8  Archimedes' principle of floatation in view.
1000 kg / m3
• In case of a submarine, the water is filled in
or d  0.8 1000 kg / m3  800 kg / m3 order to make it heavy enough to submerge and
mass of the liquid in the bucket, remain submerged. In order for a submarine to
M  V  d  (102 m3 )  (800 kg / m3 )  8 kg come to the surface of the water, water from
Total mass of the bucket inside the submarine has to be removed. Some
 m  M  1 kg  8 kg  9 kg submarines use pressurized air to fill the ballast
tanks to add weight and submerge.
Floatation • Flip: Which is a floating instrument platform
containing a water vessel which acts as a
When a body is immersed in a liquid/ the following research vessel to study waves in deep water.
two forces act on the body. This Flip vessel is floating horizontally and
• The weight (W1 ) of the body acts vertically placed into position.
• Water is then pumped into the tanks; this
downwards. This force has a tendency to sink
makes the vessel flip into vertical position.
the body (due to the force of gravity) in the
When the water is removed, it flips back into
liquid.
horizontal position. This is based on
• The upthrust (W2 ) of the liquid acts vertically
Archimedes' principle.
upwards. The upthrust (or buoyant force) is • Dasymeter: Dasymeter is a device that
equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by demonstrates the buoyant force of gases. It
the immersed part of the body. This force has a consists of a thick sphere of glass with density
tendency to push the body out of the given almost equal to the gas whose buoyant force is
liquid. to be determined.
A body placed in a liquid will float in the liquid if • This sphere is weighed when immersed in the
the weight of the liquid displaced by its gas. This meter works on the principle of
immersed part is equal to its weight. This is floatation.
called principle of floatation or the law of • An iron nail sinks in water while a ship made of
floatation. iron does not sink and keeps on floating. This is
because the density of iron is greater than that
of water, so the weight of the nail is greater
than the weight of water displaced by it, so it
sinks. On the other hand, a ship made of iron
does not sink because a ship is made hollow
from inside which reduces the average density
of ship than that of water. So a ship floats on
water.
• Floatation of icebergs: The density of ice is less
than the density of water. Therefore, huge
masses of ice known as icebergs are able to
float on water. It has been found that an
iceberg floats in sea water with 11/12th part of
its volume below the water surface and 1/12th
part of its volume above sea water.
Application of Principle of Floatation • When lighter gases like hydrogen or helium
The principle of floatation was first proposed by having density lesser than air are filled in a
Archimedes which is popular as the 'eureka' moment. balloon, the weight of the air displaced by the
The principle of floatation states that any floating inflated balloon becomes more than the weight
object displaces fluid which is equal to its own weight. of the gas filled balloon. Since the upthrust on
the balloon is more than its weight, it
9
 experiences a net upward force and hence it  0.76 m 13.6  103 kg m3  9.8 m s 2
rises up.
 101292.8 N m 2 1.013  105 Pa
• Illustration
Other units usually used in measurement of
pressure are torr and bar
1 torr = 1 mm of Hg, 1 bar = 105 Pa
• Buoyant Force: The upward force experienced
by a body when partly or fully immersed in a
6. How does a fish manage to rise up and move fluid is called upthrust or buoyant force. The
down in water? phenomena responsible for this is called
Sol.: In order to rise up, air diffuse from the fish’s buoyancy.
body flow into its bladder. As a result, the • Pascal Law: It states that an increase in pressure
volume of the fish increases and so the at any point inside a liquid at rest, is transmitted
upthrust increases and the fish rises up as the equally and without any change, in all directions
average density of the fish becomes less than to every other point in the liquid.
that of water. In order to come down, air • Archimedes' Principle: It states that when a
diffuse body is partially or wholly immersed in a fluid, it
experience an upthrust or apparent lose of
Essential Points weight, which is equal to the weight of the fluid
displaced by the immersed part of the body.
• Thrust: The force which produce compression is • Density: Mass per unit volume of a body is
known as thrust. Its S.I. unit is newton. It is also called density
Mass
expressed in gravitational unit called kg wt. Density 
• Pressure: The thrust acting normally to a unit Volume
3
area of a surface is called pressure. S.I. unit of Its S.I. unit is kg m .
pressure is pascal. • Relative Density: The ratio between the density
• One pascal is defined as a force of 1 N acting of a substance and density of water is known as
perpendicularly on an area of 1 m2. relative density. Relative density of a body is a
Force pure number and has no unit.
Pressure 
Area Mathematically, relative density (R.D)
• Pressure exerted by solids is directly Density of substance

proportional to the force and inversely Density of water at 4C
proportional to the area of cross section. Relative density of a solid substance
Pressure in case of liquid column = height  Weight of the solid in air
density of the liquid x acceleration due to 
Apparent loss of weight of the body in water
gravity.
• Atmospheric Pressure: The pressure exerted by Relative density of a solid soluble in water =
the atmospheric gases on its surroundings and Weight of the solid in air
on the surface of the earth is known as  Apparent loss of weight of the body in a liquid 
atmospheric pressure.   relative density of the liquid 
1 atm is the pressure exerted by a vertical
Relative density of a liquid
column of mercury of 76 cm (or 760 mm)
Apparent loss of weight of a body in liquid
height. 
Apparent loss of wight of the sam body in water
 1 atm  76 cm 13.6 g cm3  9.8 m s 2 (using
h g for pressure exerted by a liquid)

10
 CONCEPT MAP

Fluid Pressure

Pressure: Upthrust: The upward force exerted by the

Force acting per unit of a surface fluid on the immersed body is know as
upthrust
Pressure Units: Pa, dyne

Thrust:
Force acting on a body normal to its surface
S.I. unit of thrust is newton
Archimedes’s principle: When a body is
Fluid: Substance which has wholly or partially immersed in a liquid, it
an ability to flow is called experiences an upward thrust equal to the
fluids. weight of liquid displaced the body

Pressure in fluids
Fluid: Substance which has
an ability to flow is called
fluids.

Downward pressure Laws of Floatation:

Types of fluid (i) Weight of a floating body = upthrust or
pressure buoyant force = Apparent loss of weight of
Upward pressure the body in the fluid
(ii) The centre of gravity and the centre of
Lateral pressure buoyancy lie in the same vertical line.

The blanket of air above earth is called

Atmospheric
atmosphere and pressure exerted by it is
pressure
atmospheric pressure.

Pascal’s law: Pressure is transmitted in equal

magnitude in all direction through an
incompressible fluid.

Applications of Pascal’s law:

 Hydraulic brakes
 Hydraulic press

11