Compared with the buoyant force of the atmosphere on a 1-kg helium-filled balloon, the buoyant force of the atmosphere on a nearby 1-kg solid iron block is
A)considerably less.
B)considerably more.
C)the same.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The buoyant force on an object depends on the density of the object relative to the density of the fluid it is in. The density of helium in the balloon is less than the density of air, so the buoyant force of the atmosphere on the balloon is greater than the weight of the balloon. However, the density of the iron block is greater than the density of air, so the buoyant force of the atmosphere on the iron block is less than the weight of the block. Thus, the buoyant force on the balloon is considerably more than the buoyant force on the iron block, making option A the correct choice.

Compared with the Buoyant Force of the Atmosphere on a 1-Kg