buoyant force

Buoyant force is the upward push that a fluid (liquid or gas) exerts on an object immersed in it. This force occurs because the fluid pressure increases with depth, creating a greater pressure on the bottom of the object than on the top. As a result, the net upward force makes the object feel lighter in the fluid. The magnitude of this force depends on the fluid’s density, the volume of the object submerged, and gravity. This principle explains why objects float or sink and is fundamental to understanding how ships, balloons, and other objects behave in fluids.