Why a Body Sinks When Weight Exceeds Buoyant Force

Answered using GPT 4o mini by ChatGPT

Question:

weight of a body is more than upward thrust, it will sink in the liquid but why?

Answer:

When a body is placed in a liquid, it experiences two main forces: the weight of the body acting downward and the buoyant force (or upward thrust) acting upward. The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the liquid displaced by the body, according to Archimedes' principle.

If the weight of the body is greater than the buoyant force, the following occurs:

  1. Weight vs. Buoyant Force: The weight of the body is the force due to gravity acting on it, while the buoyant force is the upward force exerted by the liquid. If the weight exceeds the buoyant force, the net force acting on the body is downward.

  2. Net Force: The net force can be calculated as: [ \text{Net Force} = \text{Weight} - \text{Buoyant Force} ] If this net force is positive (i.e., the weight is greater than the buoyant force), the body will accelerate downward.

  3. Sinking: As a result of the net downward force, the body will sink in the liquid. The body continues to sink until it reaches the bottom of the container or until it is fully submerged, depending on the specific conditions.

In summary, when the weight of a body is greater than the upward thrust (buoyant force), the body will sink because the downward gravitational force exceeds the upward force exerted by the liquid.