Competency #4
Answer and Explanation
Given: Wood and aluminum have same volume. Aluminum and Lead have same mass. Objects are in a beaker of water.
Which object experiences the smallest buoyant force?
The answer is that it is not possible to fully answer this question without more information.
Buoyant force is an upward force that a fluid exerts on an immersed object. The magnitude of the buoyant force depends on the volume of the object that is submerged.
In a related problem we determined that aluminum experienced the greatest buoyant force, which leaves our possibilities to be lead and wood. To answer this question we need to know which one has a greater submerged volume. Unfortunately, from the information given and the diagram, it is not possible to know this for certain. It may appear that the lead has a greater submerged volume, but without additional information we cannot be sure.
Therefore, you cannot answer this question, except to say that you know it is not the aluminum.