Upthrust (AQA GCSE Physics)

Upthrust

• Upthrust is a force that pushes upwards on an object submerged in a fluid i.e. liquids and gases

• It is always in the opposite direction to the object's weight

  • This is why boats, and objects that are less dense than water, float

• The size of the upthrust depends on the density of the fluid as well as the volume of fluid that is displaced (which is equal to the volume of the object)

  • The denser the liquid, the greater the upthrust it will exert on an object

Upthrust is in the opposite direction to the weight of the boat and the fisherman

• Upthrust is due to the difference in pressure between the top and the bottom of the submerged object

• A partially (or totally) submerged object experiences a greater pressure on the bottom surface than on the top surface

  • This is because the pressure p is proportional to the depth h of the object

• The difference in pressure creates a resultant force upwards (upthrust)

• Upthrust is why objects appear to weigh less when immersed in a liquid

Upthrust is due to the different pressure at the top and bottom of this cylinder

Floating & Sinking

• Whether an object sinks or floats depends on the upthrust:

  • If the upthrust on an object is equal to (or greater than) the object’s weight, then the object will float

  • If the upthrust is smaller than the weight then the object will sink

• The outcome also depends on the object's density:

  • If it has a density less than the density of the fluid it is immersed in, the object will float

  • If it has a density more than the density of the fluid it is immersed in, the object will sink

• This is because if the density of the object is greater than the density of the fluid, the object can never displace enough fluid to create an upthrust that will hold its weight up (and therefore sinks)

Objects which are less dense than water will float and which are more dense will sink

• A polystyrene block will float in water

  • This is because polystyrene has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ which is much less than the density of water (1.0 g/cm³)

• A wooden block will be partially submerged but will still float

  • This is because the density of a wooden block (0.9 g/cm³) is slightly less than the density of water

• An iron block will sink

  • This is because iron has a density (7.9 g/cm³) that is much higherthan water