What is the relationship between buoyancy and density?

1 Answer
Apr 24, 2018

Buoyancy is the balance between two densities.

Explanation:

The relative density of two objects or compounds determines the amount of observed "buoyancy". This can be a direct effect of immiscible things (lava lamps, rocks in water) or the relative volumetric effect, such as boats.

One favorite exercise:
If a man is in a boat filled with large rocks floating on a lake, and he throws all of the rocks overboard into the lake, does the lake level increase, decrease, or stay the same?

The correct answer is an example of the inter-relationship of density and volume, and how they may affect buoyancy.