A steel ball sinks in water but floats in a pool of mercury,which is much denser than water.Where is the buoyant force on the ball greater?
A)floating on the mercury
B)submerged in the water
C)It is the same in both cases.
D)It cannot be determined from the information given.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. Since mercury is much denser than water, the same volume of mercury displaced by the steel ball will have a greater weight than the same volume of water displaced. Therefore, the buoyant force on the ball will be greater when it is floating on the mercury.

A Steel Ball Sinks in Water but Floats in a Pool