How to use the buoyancy and flotation calculator
Calculate buoyant force and whether an object floats. Enter fluid density, submerged volume, object mass in the fields above; the buoyant force, object weight, net force (up positive) are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- rho — Fluid density (kg/m³)
- V — Submerged volume (m³)
- m — Object mass (kg)
Worked example
With fluid density = 1000 kg/m³, submerged volume = 0.05 m³, object mass = 40 kg, the calculator gives buoyant force ≈ 490.3325 N; object weight ≈ 392.266 N; net force (up positive) ≈ 98.0665 N.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the buoyancy and flotation calculation?
Buoyant force (N) = rho × V × GRAV. Object weight (N) = m × GRAV. Net force (up positive) (N) = [Buoyant force]-[Object weight]. Here rho is fluid density (kg/m³), V is submerged volume (m³), m is object mass (kg).
What inputs do I need for the buoyancy and flotation calculator?
You need fluid density in kg/m³, submerged volume in m³, object mass in kg. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.