Labs / Physics
Buoyancy Tank
Drop a block into the fluid, then drag it up or down and let go. It settles where the upward buoyant force — the weight of the fluid it pushes aside — exactly matches its own weight. Change the block's density and size, or pour a heavier fluid, and watch the waterline slice through it at a new depth.
W 0 NF 0 Nsub 0 %floating
What to try
- Set the block lighter than water, then heavier. Where does the waterline end up in each case?
- Does making the block bigger while keeping its density fixed change the submerged fraction at all?
- What block density makes exactly half of it stick out of plain water?
- Switch from oil to brine without touching the block. Why does it suddenly ride higher?
- Can you find a density where the block hovers fully underwater without sinking or rising?