buoyancy
Liquids and gases can both produce buoyant force. This topic is part of Physics within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 14 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.
buoyancy trivia questions
Buoyancy is an upward force exerted by what?
Answer: Fluid
Bonus fact: Liquids and gases can both produce buoyant force.
An object floats when buoyant force balances what?
Answer: Its weight
Bonus fact: Floating occurs when upward and downward forces balance.
Buoyant force equals the weight of what according to Archimedes' principle?
Answer: Displaced fluid
Bonus fact: Displacement determines buoyant force.
What organ helps many bony fish control buoyancy without constantly swimming?
Answer: Swim bladder
Bonus fact: A swim bladder is a gas-filled organ that helps regulate buoyancy.
What tanks do submarines fill or empty to control buoyancy?
Answer: Ballast tanks
Bonus fact: Changing ballast changes the vessel's average density.
What internal structure gives cuttlefish buoyancy control?
Answer: Cuttlebone
Bonus fact: The porous cuttlebone contains gas-filled chambers.
An airship is kept aloft by gas that is what compared with air?
Answer: Less dense
Bonus fact: Lighter-than-air gases provide buoyancy.
What principle named for Archimedes explains buoyant force?
Answer: Archimedes' principle
Bonus fact: An immersed object experiences buoyancy equal to the weight of displaced fluid.
An object less dense than water will generally do what?
Answer: Float
Bonus fact: Buoyancy can support an object whose average density is below water's.
Why does a helium balloon rise?
Answer: Helium is less dense than air
Bonus fact: Buoyancy lifts the lower-density balloon.
A hot-air balloon rises because hot air is what than cool air?
Answer: Less dense
Bonus fact: Lower-density air creates buoyancy.
What was the name of the bathyscaphe used for the 1960 Challenger Deep dive?
Answer: Trieste
Bonus fact: Trieste used a gasoline-filled float for buoyancy and a heavy pressure sphere to protect its crew.