- A. density
- B. mass
- C. weight ✓
- D. volume
The answer to the question is: C. weight
Introduction to the Principle of Flotation
The principle of flotation is a fundamental concept in fluid mechanics that deals with the buoyancy of objects when placed in a fluid. Whether an object floats or sinks in a fluid is determined by the Archimedes’ principle, which states that the upward buoyant force exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces.
Understanding Flotation with Respect to Displacement
According to Archimedes’ principle, a body will float if it is less dense than the fluid it is placed in. The body will displace a quantity of fluid until the weight of that displaced fluid equals the weight of the body. If an object is more dense than the fluid, it will sink because it cannot displace enough fluid to equal its own weight.
Given this explanation, we can deduce that for an object to float, it must displace a quantity of fluid whose weight is equal to its own weight. Therefore, from the principle of flotation, a body sinks in a fluid until it displaces a quantity equal to its own:
