Ever wondered why a massive ship can float while a tiny pebble sinks? The answer lies in Archimedes' Law! This fundamental principle of physics explains buoyancy – the upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an immersed object.
Archimedes' Law states that the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces. Imagine dropping a ball into water. It pushes some water out of the way. The weight of that displaced water is the buoyant force acting on the ball.
If the buoyant force is greater than the object's weight, the object floats. If the buoyant force is less than the object's weight, it sinks. If they're equal, the object is neutrally buoyant, meaning it neither rises nor sinks but stays at the level it was placed.
So next time you're enjoying a relaxing swim, remember Archimedes and his brilliant discovery! He helped us understand why things float, from boats to balloons.
