Question

Four cubes of the same volume are made of different materials: lead (density 11,300 kg/m3), aluminum (density 2700 kg/m3), wood (density 800 kg/m3), and Styrofoam (density 50 kg/m3). You place the cubes in a large container filled with water.

Rank the buoyant forces that the water exerts on the cubes from largest to smallest.

Rank from largest to smallest. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

Answer 1

Here we notice density if lead and aluminum is more than water, so they will sink and displace equal water, so buoyant force will be equal.

Wood and styrofoam will float as their densities are less than that of water. Mass of wood will be more than styrofoam as its density is larger and volume is same, wood will be submerged more than styrofoam, So water displaced or buoyant force of wood will be more than that of styrofoam.

Lead = Aluminum > Wood > Styrofoam