The archimedes’ principle calculator turns density of the object, acceleration due to gravity, change in height, surface area of the fluid, mass of the fluid displaced into volume of the fluid displaced, apparent weight of the object, apparent mass of the object. It suits students checking a worked example, professionals sanity-checking a figure, and anyone who wants to see how the pieces of the calculation fit together.
What Is the Archimedes' Principle Calculator?
It is built around volume of the fluid displaced, apparent weight of the object, apparent mass of the object, and it works the same way whether you are checking a homework answer, confirming a colleague's figure, or working something out for yourself. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing you enter is uploaded anywhere.
How the Archimedes' Principle Calculation Works
The steps are applied in order, so an output that depends on another output updates as soon as the underlying figures change.
The relationship between density of the object, acceleration due to gravity, change in height, surface area of the fluid, mass of the fluid displaced and volume of the fluid displaced, apparent weight of the object, apparent mass of the object, true weight of the object, true mass of the object, volume of the object, density of the fluid, force of buoyancy is fixed, so the same figures always give the same answer. That makes it a good cross-check: run the numbers a second way and see whether the result agrees.
Getting a Result You Can Trust
The most common mistake is mixing units. Keep density of the object and acceleration due to gravity and change in height and surface area of the fluid and mass of the fluid displaced in the same system throughout, and make sure any rates or ratios are quoted per the same period. When a result looks far out of range, the units are nearly always the reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out volume of the fluid displaced?
Enter density of the object, acceleration due to gravity, change in height, surface area of the fluid, mass of the fluid displaced. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports volume of the fluid displaced, apparent weight of the object, apparent mass of the object.
What does the archimedes' principle actually calculate?
It takes density of the object and acceleration due to gravity and change in height and surface area of the fluid and mass of the fluid displaced and converts them into volume of the fluid displaced, apparent weight of the object, apparent mass of the object using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter density of the object?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Why does a small change in one value move the answer so much?
That happens when an output depends on a ratio, because dividing by a small number magnifies any change in it. Check the units first, then check whether the value you entered is in the range the relationship was designed for.
Can I use this for a quick estimate as well as a precise answer?
Yes. The calculator is built for quick checks, so round your inputs to a sensible number of significant figures and the result will be just as useful. If you need more precision, keep the same method and add digits to the inputs rather than adjusting the method itself.