Experiment 9

Archimedes’ Principle

Objective:

To verify the Archimedes’ principle by measuring the buoyancy for a submerged non-dissolving solid object

Equipment:

A  small solid and regular shape object, a few meters of thin string, a mass balance, a force gauge, a caliper or a micrometer, a beaker or a container, a C-clamp and rod, a skew clamp, and a calculator

Theory:

Archimedes’ principle states that when a non-dissolving object is submerged in a  fluid, the fluid exerts an upward force onto the object called the buoyancy force, B, that is equal to the weight of displaced fluid.  We may write:

B = (V_object )(  D_fluid)

 Where D = ρ g is the weight density of the fluid.  B in fact is the weight of displaced fluid.

Procedure:

1. Use a geometric shape aluminum piece available in your Physics Lab for submersion in water.  The reason for choosing a known geometric shape object is its ease of volume calculation and dimensions measurement.  Available objects are prism-shape fulcrums you may have used in the supports reactions experiment and smaller aluminum pieces in the measurement boxes where Vernier calipers are kept.  Make sure to return them to where they belong after the experiment is over.
2. Use a caliper to measure the dimensions of the selected aluminum piece and calculate its volume by using the appropriate formula for volume calculation.
3. Calculate the accepted value for buoyancy by using the buoyancy formula.
4. Assemble an apparatus as shown in the following figure for the experiment.  One way is to use a rod attached to a C-clamp that is secured to the edge of a table.  A skew-clamp that can be secured at varying elevation on the rod may be connected to the rod.   The force gauge then may be hung from the skew clamp.  The force gauge must read zero in the hanging position with only the string hanging from it.
5. Measure the weight of the aluminum piece in air.  You may simply use a mass scale for this purpose.   Note that air (also a fluid) applies buoyancy onto all objects submerged in it, but since its weight density is very small compared to that of water, its effect is neglected.)
6. Attach the aluminum piece to the string that is hanging from the gauge.  It should read exactly the weight you measured with the mass balance.  You may have to convert grams to kilograms and then find the weight in Newtons if the force gauge reads in Newtons. 
7. Fill the beaker with enough water and place it under the aluminum piece that is hanging from the force gauge.  Adjust the position of the skew clamp or change the length of the string attached to the force gauge until the aluminum piece is fully under water but still supported by the force gauge.
8. Read the weight of the aluminum piece in water (the apparent weight) and record its value.  Make sure your eye sight is perpendicular to the force gauge when reading the weight.
9. Use the knowledge of the weight in air and the weight in water to calculate buoyancy.  This is your measured value for buoyancy.
10. Calculate a % error on B.
11. Repeat the experiment (all of the above steps) for two more objects of different shapes and materials.  Your instructor will help you with the selection of suitable non-dissolving objects.
12. Arrange a table for your measurements and results.

Calculation(s):

Provide the necessary calculations.

Comparison of the results: 

Provide the percent error formula used as well as the calculation of percent errors.

Conclusion:

State your conclusions of the experiment.

Discussion:

Provide a discussion if necessary.