Experiment 206: Archimedes Principle

JAVEN, PAUL ADRIAN B.

Department of Physics
School of Civil Engineering and Geological Engineering
Mapua Institute of Technology
PHY11L A1 Group 4
pjaven@gmail.com

Abstract
In civil engineering, we have a course titled Construction Materials and Testing. In this course, we
have experiments that deal with the specific gravities of gravel, cement, and sand. Here we relate
the specific gravity of cement with kerosene because if we mix it water, it will have a chemical
reaction that will harden and render the experiment useless.
The use of specific gravity in civil engineering is proved useful in using the ACI method and the
approximate sand-water method -- the one that DPWH uses in determining the ideal mix for
concrete. It is useful because it also aids in maxiziming compressive strengths and workability of
the mortar. Plus, it is used also for determining ideal water-cement ratios.

Introduction
Archimedes principle, physical law of buoyancy, discovered by the ancient Greek mathematician
and inventor Archimedes, stating that any body completely or partially submerged in a fluid (gas or
liquid) at rest is acted upon by an upward, or buoyant, force the magnitude of which is equal to the
weight of the fluid displaced by the body. The volume of displaced fluid is equivalent to the volume
of an object fully immersed in a fluid or to that fraction of the volume below the surface for an
object partially submerged in a liquid.

The weight of the displaced portion of the fluid is equivalent to the magnitude of the buoyant force.
The buoyant force on a body floating in a liquid or gas is also equivalent in magnitude to the weight
of the floating object and is opposite in direction; the object neither rises nor sinks. For example, a
ship that is launched sinks into the ocean until the weight of the water it displaces is just equal to its
own weight. As the ship is loaded, it sinks deeper, displacing more water, and so the magnitude of
the buoyant force continuously matches the weight of the ship and its cargo.

If the weight of an object is less than that of the displaced fluid, the object rises, as in the case of a
block of wood that is released beneath the surface of water or a helium-filled balloon that is let
loose in air. An object heavier than the amount of the fluid it displaces, though it sinks when
released, has an apparent weight loss equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. In fact, in some
accurate weighings, a correction must be made in order to compensate for the buoyancy effect of
the surrounding air.
The buoyant force, which always opposes gravity, is nevertheless caused by gravity. Fluid pressure
increases with depth because of the (gravitational) weight of the fluid. This increasing pressure
applies a force on a submerged object that increases with depth. The result is buoyancy.

Methodology
A. Determining the Specific Gravity of an Unknown Solid Sample Heavier than Water
1. Suspend the first metal sample at one side of a platform balance and find its weight in air,
WA (see figure A).

2. Submerge the sample completely in a beaker of water and measure its weight while it is in
water, Ww (see figure B).

3. Compute for the loss of weight of the sample.

loss of weight of water = WA Ww

4. Determine the specific gravity by using the equation:

SG =

5. Using the second sample, repeat steps 1-4.

6. Compare the experimental values with the actual values. Identify the samples used.

B. Determining the Specific Gravity of an Unknown Liquid Sample

1. Choose any one of the metal samples used in part A. Its weight in air, WA will be used in
this part.
2. Submerge the metal completely in the first liquid sample and record its weight in the
liquid, WL. Be sure that the metal is thoroughly dry before immersing it in the liquid.
3. Find the loss of weight of the body in the liquid.

loss of weight of body in liquid = WA WL

4. Determine the specific gravity of the liquid by using the equation:

SG =

5. Repeat steps 2-4 using the second liquid sample.

6. Compare the experimental values with the actual values found in table 1. Identify the liquid
samples.
7. Transfer the liquids into two separate thoroughly dried graduated cylinders.

C. Determining the Specific Gravity of an Unknown Liquid Sample Using a Hydrometer.

The results in Part B can be verified by using a hydrometer (see Figure C).

A hydrometer consits of a weighted float and a calibrated stem that protrudes from the liquid
when the float is entirely immersed. A higher specific gravity will result in a greater length
of the stem above the surface, while a lower specific gravity will cause the hydrometer to
float lower.

D. Determining the Specific Gravity of a Solid Lighter than Water

1. Obtain a piece of cork and weigh it, WA. (see Figure D)
2. Choose any one of the metal samples used in part A and use it as a sinker.
3. Suspend the cork from a string and hang the sinker just below it.
4. Find the weight with just the sinker under water, WCA-SW (see figure E) and with both sinker
and cork under water, W(S+C)W (see Figure F).
5. Compute for the loss of weight of the cork.

loss of weight of cork = WCA-SW W(C+S)W

6. Determine the specific gravity of the cork using the equation


SG =
(+)

Results and Discussion

Table I determines the SG of an unknown solid sample heavier than H2O. The samples weight in air
were weighed on the electronic balance. These metal weights are made of aluminum and brass where
each of these materials have different experimental specific gravities. Measurements show that their
weights in air are 31.4g and 49.5g. Weights in water (Ww) are measured by the electronic balance as
the solids are submerged in the beaker filled with water. Weight loss in water is shown by Wa Ww.
SG of unknown solids are computed through the formula Wa over the weight loss. Mathematically,

. The first sample showed us an experimental SG value of 2.75, which is close to the actual


aluminum density of 2.7g/cm3 and 8.53, which is close to the actual brass density of 8.44g/cm3. Our
attempts scored 1.85% error for aluminum and 1.07% error for brass.
On Table II, we determined the weight of unknown liquids, each heavier or lighter than water. SG of

unknown liquids are determined by the formula: . Referring to the data acquired, our samples

had experimental SG values of 0.833 and 0.98. These values are close to the SGs of alcohol and H2O,
respectively. Therefore, we assume that the liquids are such. Another way of proving it is by smelling
the liquid. But note that this method is not always safe, especially when dealing with noxious liquids.
Percent error for alcohol is 1.59% while we scored 2.00% for water. Alcohol and water have actual
densities of 0.82g/cm3 and 1.00g/cm3, respectively.
Table III is the determination of SG of unknown liquids using a hydrometer. A hydrometer is a pen-
shaped glass apparatus that measures SG of liquids with a buoyant component to make it float. This
test is short and easy and it showed readings of 0.805 and 1.00. Referring to the density charts, it
shows that the liquids were alcohol and water, respectively. Percentage errors were 0.92% and 0%
for alcohol and water.
Table IV is about the determination of SG of buoyant solids (solids with SG<1). The sample given
was a cork. Its weight in air is measured to be 3.2g. W CA-SW is the corks weight and sinker in H2O
with value 24.0g. The weight of both sinker and cork in H2O is 10.4g. Their specific gravity is

computed through the formula: with a value of 0.2353. This shows that water is
(+)
0.2353 times more dense than cork.
Answers to Guide Questions
1. One kg of iron (S.G. = 7.50) and one kg of brass (S.G. = 8.44) are suspended from different
balanced scales, each metal fully submerged in water. What is the weight loss for each
metal?

1
S.G. = 8.44 = 1

1
7.50 = 1 Ww(Brass) = 0.88

Ww(Iron) = 0.87 Wa Ww = 1 0.88 = 0.12kg (Brass)

Wa Ww = 1 0.87 = 0.13kg (Iron)

2. A beach ball has a volume of 0.050m3. How much force would you have to exert to hold
this beach ball completely under water? Assume that the weight of the ball is negligibly
small.

FB = Vg
= 1000kg/m3
FB = 1000(0.050)(9.8)
FB = 490N

3. A sinker was used to submerge a piece of cork beneath the water to determine the corks
specific gravity. Why is it unnecessary to know the specific gravity of the sinker?

The SG of the sinker is unnecessary because the formula only uses its weights of certain
conditions. The mass only would be used to calculate for the SG of the cork, wherein it is stated

in the equation that SG = , that does not consider the SG of the sinker.

(+)

Conclusion

E206 determines specific gravity of unknown solids and liquids with Archimedes principle. Density
and specific gravity of materials are distinct on non-composite objects that makes it as an effective
tool in identification of the materials composition. When we mean non-composite, we mean that it
must not be an alloy or a mixture of two or more simple objects or substances.

An object submerged in a fluid (a liquid, in particular), experiences a buoyant force present in water
pushing the object up. This buoyant force makes the object decrease its weight that is causing surface
tension. Buoyant force is the weight of the liquid displaced by the object. The weight loss of fluids
are equal in magnitude to force which is why specific gravity is referred to as the relative density of
the object to water.

Archimedes principle in real world applies to submarines, floatation devices and ships. Ballast tanks
makes use of buoyancy. If the ship were to carry more load, it needs to lessen the fluid in the ballast
tanks so that it can accomodate more load. If the ship has does not have sufficient load to travel, it
has a tendency to be carried away by violent tides or strong winds. For this reason, it needs to fill the
ballast tanks more so that it is more anchored with the water. The principle of this experiment states
that some thing, when it is completely or partially dipped in a fluid, experiences a force of buoyancy
that is equal to the displaced fluids weight.

Recommendations
Sources of error include: using an incorrectly calibrated electronic scale, contamination of the liquid
-- contamination of liquid can result to deviations to the specific gravity, inconsistency with
computations and syntax errors, too much round-off of significant figures -- tables of specific
gravities allows only a certain interval of which values can fall upon, and using leaky cylinders --
leaking cylinders displaces liquid on a certain rate that it will change the volume of liquid inside
and affecting weight loss (buoyant force).

References
Reference from a book:
[1] Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2014). Principles of Physics 10th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Reference from a website:
[2] Information from http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/permot2.html
[3] Information from http://theory.uwinnipeg.ca/physics/fluids/node10.html
[5] Information from http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/density-specific-weight-gravity-
d_290.html
[6] Information from https://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=5454
[7] Information from https://www.britannica.com/science/Archimedes-principle

Appendix
*see computations on the next page.