Chapter 13, Problem 66A

To determine

Whether Archimedes’ principle applies on object submerged in water in spaceship.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction: As per Archimedes Principle,the buoyant force on the submerged object in a fluid is equal to the weight of displaced fluid by the same object.

When a liquid exerts pressure on the body that is immersed in it, it is causes buoyancy. It always points in upward direction.

Buoyant force is calculated either directly by force exerted on the surface of the object or through the weight of the displaced fluid.

The net weight of the displaced fluid is zero as the fluid is in free fall in space. Hence Archimedes’ principle is not applicable for the bodyinside a flask that is submerged into the water in spaceship in orbit.

Conclusion: No, the Archimedes’ principle does not apply to the body inside a flask submerged in water in a spaceship in orbit.