Question

State the principle of floatation.

Answer 1

An object is said to float when the object has density less than the density of the water. Floatation of a body or an object depends upon its density. The principle of floatation is stated by Archimedes.

Complete answer:
The principle of floatation states that when an object or a body flows on a liquid then the buoyant force which acts on the object or the body is equal to the weight of the object.
The displaced volume of the fluid is equal to the volume of the object which is immersed in the fluid. When the weight of the object is greater than the upthrust, then the object will sink in the fluid. When the weight of the object is equal to the upthrust, then the object is balanced making the object float.
Archimedes states that all the objects which are placed in a liquid experience an upward force which allows the body to float, and it displaces water with the weight equal to the weight of the body or the object. This upward force acting on the object is known as buoyant force and the law is known as the law of buoyancy. The law of floatation is an application of Archimedes' principle.
Hence, the principle of floatation states that when a body floats with its volume partially above the liquid surface, the quantity of the liquid displaced by the body is equal to the quantity of the submerged portion of the body. As the body is in equilibrium, the buoyant force acting on the body must be equal to its weight.

Note:
When any boat displaces a weight of water equal to its own weight, it floats. This phenomenon is known as the principle of flotation. It states that the floating object displaces a weight of fluid which is equal to its own weight.