Description

This full-page question and problem set is the first of my two-part series about buoyancy in relation to Archimedes’ principle. It is an essential component of curriculum for a unit about forces in fluids for physical science. I assign this activity in my eighth-grade physical science class. High school physical science teachers could also use this lesson as a remedial reinforcement activity or as an accommodation to differentiate their curriculum to meet the needs of students who struggle to learn.

In this activity, students will determine the buoyancy force of submerged objects from the object’s out of water weight and from the weight of that object in the water. Students will analyze the relationship among water displacement, the amount of submersion, object versus water densities, and the buoyancy force in provided scenarios. Students also calculate the buoyancy force given the density of the fluid, the submerged volume of the object, and the gravitational acceleration. Students also will calculate the volume of an object using the density equation. In addition, students will have an opportunity to convert the weight of an object to its mass.

I included an equation bank at the top of both pages, which includes a breakdown of what each letter symbol used in the respective equation means. I parenthesized the letter symbols of the equation components next to the respective values in the story problems to assist students with the proper equation set up. Students also have access to the constant values for gravity and the density of water.

This document will become editable upon conversion to Microsoft Word using the Adobe Acrobat Reader app. It includes a key with the answers in red font.

This resource is the first of a two-part problem set series about buoyancy and Archimedes' principle.

Check out my store for other pressure in fluids activity resources!

Buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle Problem Set #2
Forces in Fluids Test
Forces in Fluids Study Guide
Pascal's Principles Problems of Pressure Set #1
Pascal's Pressure Problems of Pressure Set #2

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