INDEX

1. Theory 03 - 06

2. Exercise - 1 07 - 11

3. Exercise - 2 12 - 15

4. Exercise - 3 16 - 20

3. Answers Key 21
 THEORY
Chapter 11
FLOTATION 3

FLOTATION

1. INTRODUCTION TO FLUIDS
1.1 Introduction to Fluids and Fluid Pressure
 Pressure P at any point is defined as the normal force
per unit area.

dF
P
dA Fig. 11.2
 Pressure at two points which are at a depth separation of
h when fluid is at rest or moving with constant velocity is
Fig. 11.1 related by the expression
 The SI unit of pressure is the Pascal and
2
1 Pascal = 1 N/m
NOTE:
Fluid force acts perpendicular to any surface in the fluid,
no matter how that surface is oriented. Hence pressure,
has no intrinsic direction of its own, it is a scalar.

1.2 Relative Density or Specific Gravity

 Relative density, or specific gravity, is the ratio of the
density (mass of a unit volume) of a substance to the
density of a given reference material.
 lf the relative density is exactly 1 then the densities are
equal: that is, equal volumes of the two substances
have the same mass.
substance
RD 
reference
RD = relative density
substance = density of substance being measured
reference = density of the reference
Fig. 11.3
P2 – P1 = gh, where  is the density of liquid.
2.2 Types of Pressure
Atmospheric Pressure
 It is the pressure exerted by the before earth earth’s
atmosphere. Normal atmospheric pressure at sea level is
5
1 atmosphere (atm) that is equal to 1.013 × 10 Pa.
Gauge Pressure
 Gauge pressure is the difference between absolute
pressure and atmospheric pressure.
 If the gauge pressure is above the atmospheric pressure,
it’s positive.

 If the gauge pressure is below the atmospheric pressure,

it’s negative. Since gauge pressure readings include
2. HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
atmospheric pressure, gauge pressure can differ
2.1 Variation of Pressure
depending on weather and sea level.
 Pressure at two points in a horizontal plane or at same
level when the fluid is at rest or moving with constant  If you’re measuring pressure in an environment that
velocity is same. won’t be heavily affected by the atmosphere, you can
measure in pounds per square inch gauge .
FLOTATION 4

Absolute Pressure 2.4 Hydrostatic paradox

Absolute pressure is gauge pressure plus atmospheric  Hydrostatic Paradox
pressure. An absolute pressure reading of zero can only be “Hydrostatic Paradox states that, the pressure at a
achieved in a perfect vacuum and only naturally occurs in certain horizontal level in the fluid is proportional to the
outer space. vertical distance to the surface of the fluid.”

 Hydrostatic Paradox is mathematically expressed as:

Ph
 Example
Three-vessel X, ‘Y, Z of different shape, containing a
different volume of liquid, but all exert the same
pressure(P) at all points at the same horizontal level.

3. FORCE EXERTED BY FLUIDS ON

THE WALLS OF THE CONTAINER

Fig. 11.4
2.3 Manometer
A Manometer is a device to measure pressures. A common
simple manometer consists of a U shaped tube of glass
filled with some liquid. Typically the liquid is mercury
because of its high density.
3.1 Horizontal Force Exerted on the Walls of the Container
Force on Side Wall of a Vesssel
Consider a strip of width dx at a depth x from the surface of
the liquid as shown in figure, and on this strip the force due
to the liquid:
dF  xg  bdx (perpendicular to the wall) ....(i)

Fig. 11.6

Net force on the wall from eq (i).

h
F   dF   xg bdx
0

gbh 2
F
2

Fig. 11.5
FLOTATION 5

Average Pressure on Side Wall According to principle of hydraulics,

The average pressure on the wall can be given as : F1 F2 A
P1  P2    F2  2 F1
A1 A2 A1
F
Paverage 
bh
5. BUOYANCY
 Buoyancy is the tendency of an object to float in a
1 gbh 2 1 fluid.
   gh
2 bh 2
 All liquids and gases in the presence of gravity exert an
Above equation shows that the average pressure on side upward force known as the buoyant force on any object
vertical wall is half of the net pressure at the bottom of the immersed in them.
vessel.  Buoyant Force
Torque on the Side Wall due to Fluid Pressure  The buoyant force is the upward force exerted on an
As shown in figure, due to the force dF, the side wall object wholly or partly immersed in a fluid.
experiences a torque about the bottom edge of the side  This upward force is also called Upthrust.
which is given as :  Due to the buoyant force, a body submerged partially
d  dF   h  x  or fully in a fluid appears to lose its weight, ie. appears
to be lighter.
 xgb dx  h  x  Following factors affect buoyant force:
 Density of the fluid
h

Thus net torque is    d   gb  hx  x dx

2
 Volume of the fluid displaced
0

 Local acceleration due to gravity

h h 
3 3
5.2 Archimedes Principle
 gb   
2 3 Archimedes’ principle states that:
“The upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body
1 immersed in a fluid, whether partially or fully submerged,
 gbh 3
6 is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces
and acts in the upward direction at the center of mass of
4. PASCAL’S LAW the displaced fluid”.
 A change in the pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is  Archimedes Principle Explanation
transmitted equally to every portion of the fluid in all
direction of to the walls of the containing vessel.
 There are a lot of practical applications of Pascal’s law
e.g Hydraulic lift

Fig. 11.8
If you look at the figure, the weight due to gravity is opposed
by the thrust provided by the fluid. The object inside the
Fig. 11.7 liquid only feels the total force acting on it as the weight.
FLOTATION
Because the actual gravitational force is decreased by the
liquid’s upthrust, the object feels as though its weight is
reduced. The apparent weight is thus given by:
Apparent weight = Weight of object (in the air)
- Thrust force (buoyancy)
Archimedes’s principle tells us that the weight loss is equal
to the weight of liquid the object displaces.
 Archimedes Principle Formula
Archimedes law states that the buoyant force on an object
is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
Mathematically written as:
Fb    g  V
Where Fb is the buoyant force,  is the density of the fluid,
V is the submerged volume, and g is the acceleration due to
gravity.
Floatation
When a solid body is dipped into a fluid, the fluid exerts
and upward force of buoyancy on the solid. If the force of
buoyancy equals the weight of the solid, the solid will remain
in equilibrium. This is called floatation. When the overall
density of the solid is smaller than the density of the fluid,
the solid floats with a part of it in the fluid. The fraction
dipped is such that the weight of the displaced fluid equals
the weight of the solid.
6
Center of Buoyancy
The center of buoyancy is the point where if you were to
take all of the displaced fluid and hold it by that point it
would remain perfectly balanced, assuming you could hold
a fluid in a fixed shape. This point is also called the center of
mass. The center of buoyancy for an object is the center of
mass for the fluid it displaces.
Buoyant Force in an accelerated Fluid
Suppose a body is dipped inside a liquid of density  placed
in an elevator going up with an acceleration a 0 . Let us
calculate the force of buoyancy FB on this body. As was done
earlier, let us suppose that we substitute the body into the
liquid by the same liquid of equal volume. The entire liquid
becomes a homogenous mass and hence he substituted liquid
is at rest with respect to the rest of the liquid. Thus, the
substituted liquid is also going up with an acceleration a 0
together with the rest of the liquid.
The forces acting on the substituted liquid are
(a) The buoyant force FB and
(b) The weight mg of the substituted liquid.
From Newton’s second law
FB – mg = ma0 …(1)
or B = m (g + a0) …(2)
Equation (1) and (2) are similar to the corresponding
equations for unaccelerated liquid with the only differ-
ence that g + a takes the role of g.
FLOTATION 7

EXERCISE - 1 (Basic Exercise) 13.6 g/cm3). The level of mercury in the

Sample based problem on Pressure narrow limb is at a distance of 36 cm from
1. If pressure at half the depth of a lake is the upper end of the tube. What will be the
equal to 2/3 pressure at the bottom of the rise in the level of mercury in the right limb
lake then what is the depth of the lake if the left limb is filled to the top with water
(a) 10 m
(b) 20 m
(c) 60 m
(d) 30 m
2. Two bodies are in equilibrium when
suspended in water from the arms of a (a) 1.2 cm
balance. The mass of one body is 36 g and (b) 2.35 cm
3
its density is 9 g/cm . If the mass of the (c) 0.56 cm
3
other is 48 g, its density in g / cm is (d) 0.8 cm
(a) 4/3 5. A uniformly tapering vessel is filled with a
(b) 3/2 liquid of density 900 kg/m3. The force that
(c) 3 acts on the base of the vessel due to the
(d) 5 liquid is (g = 10 ms-2)
3. An inverted bell lying at the bottom of a
lake 47.6 m deep has 50 cm3 of air trapped
in it. The bell is brought to the surface of
the lake. The volume of the trapped air will
be (atmospheric pressure = 70 cm of Hg and (a) 3.6 N
density of Hg = 13.6 g/cm3) (b) 7.2 N
3
(a) 350 cm (c) 9.0 N
3
(b) 300 cm (d) 14.4 N
3
(c) 250 cm 6. A tank 5 m high is half filled with water and
(d) 22 cm3 then is filled to the top with oil of density
0.85 g/cm3. The pressure at the bottom of
4. A U-tube in which the cross-sectional area the tank, due to these liquids is
of the limb on the left is one quarter, the (a) 1.85 g/cm2
limb on the right contains mercury (density (b) 89.25 g/cm2
FLOTATION 8

(c) 462.5 g/cm2

(d) 500 g/cm2
7. A siphon in use is demonstrated in the
following figure. The density of the liquid
flowing in siphon is 1.5 gm/cc. The
5
pressure difference between the point P and (a) d
4
S will be 4
(b) d
5
(c) Ad
(d) d/5
10. Density of ice is  and that of water is .

(a) 105 N/m What will be the decrease in volume when

(b) 2 x 105 N/m a mass M of ice melts

(c) Zero M
(a)

(d) Infinity

8. The height of a mercury barometer is 75 cm (b)
M
at sea level and 50 cm at the top of a hill.
1 1 
Ratio of density of mercury to that of air is (c) M   
  
104. The height of the hill is
1 1 1 
(a) 250 m (d) 
M    
(b) 2.5 km
11. Equal masses of water and a liquid of
(c) 1.25 km
density 2 are mixed together, then the
(d) 750 m
mixture has a density of
Sample problems based on Density
(a) 2/3
9. A homogeneous solid cylinder of length L
(b) 4/3
(L < H/2). Cross-sectional area A/5 is
(c) 3/2
immersed such that it floats with its axis
(d) 3
vertical at the liquid-liquid interface with
length L/4 in the denser liquid as shown in
12. Two substances of densities 1 and 2 are
the fig. The lower density liquid is open to
mixed in equal volume and the relative
atmosphere having pressure P0. Then
density of mixture is 4. When they are
density D of solid is given by
mixed in equal masses, the relative density
FLOTATION 9

of the mixture is 3. The values of 1 and kg/m. If outer diameter and the density of
2 are the bowl are 1m and 2 × 104 kg/m3

(a) 1 = 6 and 2 = 2 respectively, then the inner diameter of the

(b) 1 = 3 and 2 = 5 bowl will be

(a) 0.94 m
(c) 1 = 12 and 2 = 4
(b) 0.97 m
(d) None of these
(c) 0.98 m
13. A body of density d1 is counterpoised by
(d) 0.99 m
Mg of weights of density d2 in air of density
16. In making an alloy, a substance of specific gravity
d. Then the true mass of the body is
s1 and mass m1 is mixed with another substance of
(a) M
specific gravity s2 and mass m2; then the specific
 d
(b) M 1   gravity of the alloy is
 d2 
 m1  m 2 
(a)  
 d  s1  s 2 
(c) M 1  
 d1   s1s 2 
(b)  
M(1  d / d 2 )  m1  m 2 
(d)
(1  d / d1 ) m1  m2
(c)
Sample problems based on Archimedes  m1 m2 
Principle   
 s1 s2 
14. A wooden block, with a coin placed on its  m1 m2 
top, floats in water as shown in fig. the   
(d)
 s1 s2 
distance l and h are shown there. After some m1  m2
time the coin falls into the water. Then 17. A concrete sphere of radius R has a cavity
of radius r which is packed with sawdust.
The specific gravities of concrete and
sawdust are respectively 2.4 and 0.3 for this
sphere to float with its entire volume
(a) l decreases and h increases
submerged under water. Ratio of mass of
(b) l increases and h decreases
concrete to mass of sawdust will be
(c) Both l and h increases
(a) 8
(d) Both l and h decreases
(b) 4
15. A hemispherical bowl just floats without
(c) 3
sinking in a liquid of density 1.2 × 103
FLOTATION 10

(d) zero (a) 5 × 5 × 5 × 5 gf

(b)4 × 4 × 4 × 4 gf
18. A vessel contains oil (density = 0.8 (c)5 × 4 × 4 × 4 gf
gm/cm3) over mercury (density = 13.6 (d)4 × 5 × 5 × 5 gf
3
gm/cm ). A homogeneous sphere floats 21. A wooden block of volume 1000 cm3 is
with half of its volume immersed in suspended from a spring balance. It weighs
mercury and the other half in oil. The 12 N in air. It is suspended in water such
density of the material of the sphere in that half of the block is below the surface of
gm/cm3 is water. The reading of the spring balance is
(a) 3.3 (a) 10 N
(b) 6.4 (b) 9 N
(c) 7.2 (c) 8 N
(d) 12.8 (d) 7 N

19. A body floats in a liquid contained in a 22. An iceberg is floating in sea water. The
beaker. The whole system as shown falls density of ice is 0.92 gm/cm3 and that of sea
freely under gravity. The upthrust on the water is 1.03g/cm3. What percentage of the
body due to the liquid is iceberg will be below the surface of water
(a) 3%
(b) 11%
(c) 89%
(d)92%

(a) Zero
23. A cubical block is floating in a liquid with
(b) Equal to the weight of the liquid
half of its volume immersed in the liquid.
displaced
When the whole system accelerates
(c) Equal to the weight of the body in air
upwards with acceleration of g/3, the
(d) Equal to the weight of the immersed
fraction of volume immersed in the liquid
position of the body
will be
20. A metallic block of density 5 gm cm–3 and
having dimensions 5 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm is
weighed in water. Its apparent weight will
be
FLOTATION 11

(a) 1/2 end A upwards and in case III it is vertical

(b) 3/8 with end B upwards. We have v1 = v2 for
(c) 2/3 (a) Case I
(d) 3/4 (b) Case II
Equation of continuity (c) Case III
24. Two water pipes of diameters 2 cm and 4 (d) Each case
cm are connected with the main supply line. 27. Water is moving with a speed of 5.18 ms–1
The velocity of flow of water in the pipe of through a pipe with a cross-sectional area of
2 cm diameter is 4.20 cm2. The water gradually descends
(a) 4 times that in the other pipe 9.66 m as the pipe increase in area to 7.60
(b) 1/4 times that in the other pipe cm2. The speed of flow at the lower level is
(c) 2 times that in the other pipe (a) 3.0 ms-1
(d) 1/2 times that in the other pipe (b) 5.7 ms-1
(c) 3.82 ms-1
25. An incompressible liquid flows through a (d) 2.86 ms-1
horizontal tube as shown in the following
fig. Then the velocity v of the fluid is

(a) 3.0 m/s

(b) 1.5 m/s
(c) 1.0 m/s
(d) 2.25 m/s

26. Water enters through end A with speed v1

and leaves through end B with speed v2 of
a cylindrical tube AB. The tube is always
completely filled with water. In case I tube
is horizontal and in case II it is vertical with
FLOTATION 12

EXERCISE - 2 (NSEJS PYQ)

1. The pressure at the bottom of the four

vessels filled with water to the same level is
p1, p2, p3 and p4 respectively. Then which of
(a) ρgh(∆A)
the following is correct. [NSEJS 2012-13]
(b) ρgh(∆A)sinθ
(c) ρgh(∆A)cosθ
(d) ρgh(∆A)secθ
4. A liquid (A) of density 1.6 g cm–3 and liquid
(a) P1 > P2 > P3 > P4
(B) of unknown density is poured into a U-
(b) P1 < P2 < P3 < P4
tube as shown in the figure. The liquids are
(c) P1 = P4 = P2 > P3
immiscible. If height of A is hA = 26.6 cm
(d) P1 = P2 = P3 = P4
and height of B is hB = 50 cm the density of
2. A film of oil on every water surface arrests
B is - [NSEJS 2013-14]
the growth in mosquito population since
[NSEJS 2012-13]
(a) It blocks sunlight and mosquito larvae
cannot get food
(b) Mosquito larvae suffocate
(c) Mosquito eggs cannot float on oil
(d) Mosquitoes fail to mate if water surface
is not available (a) 0.85 g cm–3
3. An inclined plane of inclination θ is placed (b) 3.01 g cm–3
in water as shown in figure given below. (c) 0.33 g cm–3
Consider a small area (∆A) around point P (d) 1.18 g cm–3
at a depth h. If density of water is ρ and
acceleration due to gravity is g, the force 5. Three identical vessels carrying equal
experienced by ∆A due to hydrostatic amount of water are placed in three lifts.
pressure is [NSEJS 2013-14] Lift A is accelerating upwards, lift B is
accelerating downwards while lift C is
moving up with constant velocity. The
pressure at a depth h from free surface in
the three vessel is measured as pA , pB and
FLOTATION 13

pc then which of the following is true. (a) Zero

[2014] (b) The differences in the masses of B and
(a) pA = pC > pB W
(b) pA > pC > pB (c) The difference in the weights of B and
(c) pA > pC = pB W
(d) pA = pC = pB (d) The weight of B

6. An inflated balloon with a heavy rock tied

to it submerges in water. As the balloon 9. Object A is completely immersed in water.

sinks deeper and deeper, the buoyant force True weight of object A is WA. Weight of

acting on it [NSEJS 2014] water with beaker is WB. Let B be the

(a) Increases buoyant force. W1 and W2 are scale

(b) Decreases readings of spring balance and weighing

(c) Remains nearly unchanged scale respectively [NSEJS 2016-17]

(d) Initially increases then decreases

7. A rectangular parallelepiped with sides a, b

and c in the ratio 3:2:1 is kept on a
uniformly rough horizontal surface as
shown in the figures below. The value of
limiting friction is [2014]

(a) Minimum in (i)

(b) Minimum in (ii) (a) W1 = WA

(c) Minimum in (iii) (b) W1 = WA + B

(d) Same in all cases (c) W2 = WB

8. A wooden block (W) is suspended by using (d) W2 = WB + B

a cord from a heavy steel ball (B). The 10. U-tube contains some amount of mercury.

entire system is dropped from a height. Immiscible Liquid X is poured in left arm

Neglecting air resistance, the tension in the immiscible liquid Y is poured in the right

cord is[2016-17] arm. Length of liquid X is 8 cm, length of

liquid Y is 10 cm and upper levels of X and
FLOTATION 14

Y are equal. If density of Y is 3.36 g cm-3

and of Hg is 13.6 g cm-3 then density of X 12. A common hydrometer has a uniform scale
is [2016-17] and its stem is graduated downwards from
0 to 20. While floating in water, it reads 0
and while floating in a liquid of density 1.40
g/cm3, it reads 20. Then the density of the
liquid in which it will read 10 is _____.
[NSEJS 2017-18]
(a) 0.7 g/cm3
(b) 0.85 g/cm3
(c) 1.17 g/cm3
-3
(a) 0.8 g.cm
(d) 2.8 g/cm3
(b) 1.2 g cm-3
(c) 1.4 g.cm-3
13. A block of wood floats on water with (3/8)th
-3
(d) 1.6 g.cm
of its volume above water. It is now made
11. A liquid, whose density doesn't change
to float on a salt solution of relative density
during the motion, is flowing steadily
1.12. The fraction of its volume that
through a pipe of varying cross sectional
remains above the salt solution now, is
area as shown in the given figure. If a1, a2
nearly _______. [NSEJS 2018-19]
are the cross sectional areas, v1, v2 are the
(a) 0.33
values of velocities (or speeds) at L and H
(b) 0.44
respectively, then the correct relation
(c) 0.67
between a1, a2 and v1, v2 is [NSEJS
(d) 0.56
2017-18]
14. A beaker is completely filled with water at
4°C. Consider the following statements.
(I) Water will overflow if the beaker is
cooled for some time.
(II) Water will overflow if the beaker is
heated for some time.
(a) a1v1 = a2v2 Select correct option regarding (I) and (II)
(b) a1v2 = a2v1 [NSEJS 2018-19]
(c) a12v2 2
= a2 v1 (a) Only (I) is correct
2 2
(d) a1v1 = a2v2 (b) Only (II) is correct
FLOTATION 15

(c) Both (I) and (II) are correct 17. The tympanic membrane (ear drum) is a
(d) Neither (I) nor (II) is correct very delicate component of the human ear.
Typically, its diameter is 1 cm. The
15. Consider the motion of a small spherical maximum force the ear can withstand is 2.5
steel body of mass m, falling freely through N. In car a diver has to enter seawater of
a long column of a fluid that opposes its density 1.05 × 103 kg/m3 without any
motion with a force proportional to its protective gear, the maximum safe depth
speed. Initially the body moves down fast, for the diver to go into water is about.
but after some time attains a constant [IOQJS 2020-21]
velocity known as terminal velocity. If (a) 12 m
weight mg, opposing force(Fv) and buoyant (b) 9 m
force (Fb) act on the body, then the correct (c) 3 m
equation relating these forces, after the (d) 1.5 m
terminal velocity is reached, is: [NSEJS
2019-20]
(a) mg + Fv = Fb
(b) mg = Fv − Fb
(c) mg = Fv + Fb
(d) None
16. A piece of ice is floating in water at 4°C in
a beaker. When the ice melts completely,
the water level in the beaker will
[NSEJS 2019-20]
(a) Rise
(b) Fall
(c) Remain unchanged
(d) Unpredictable
FLOTATION 16

EXERCISE - 3 (INJSO PYQ)

1. A gallon of water and a gallon of antifreeze

solution weigh, respectively 8.4 and 9.2 lb. The
anti freeze solution has a relative density of
[INJSO 2009] (b)
(a) 0.095
(b) 0.80
(c) 0.91
(d) 1.1

(c)
2. A ball whose density is 0.4 × 103 kg/m3 falls
into water from a height of 9 cm. To what
depth does the ball sink? (Hint: Only
consider buoyancy and ignore retardation
due to viscosity)[INJSO 2009]
(a) 9 cm (d)
(b) 6 cm
(c) 4.5 cm
(d) 2.25 cm

3. A large water tank is filled at a constant rate

of 10litres/min. It has an outlet of maximum
4. Perpetual motion of a body cannot be achi
flow of 10 litres/min at the bottom of the
eved on earth as it violates the law of
tank, but the output is proportional to the
i) conservation of momentum
water present in the tank at any given time.
ii) conservation of energy
How will the ‘v’, volume of water content
iii) law of conservation of mass
in the tank, change with time?[INJSO
Which of the above is/are in correct?
2010]
[INJSO 2011]
(a)
(a) Only i
(b) Only ii
(c) i and ii
FLOTATION 17

(d) i, ii and iii t is double the atmospheric pressure, the de

pth of the lake is... [INJSO 2012]
5. A is a tank filled to its 75% with water, B i (a) 45 m
s a weighing balance and C is a stone hung (b) 90 m
from astand. If fig. 1 is correct, what do y (c) 80 m
ou expect to be the position of needle in fi (d) 22.5 m
g. 2?[INJSO 2012]
7. A submarine is floating on water, half sub
merged (position A). It is then lowered to
position Bwhere it sits for a while. Later th
e submarine is taken to position C and sub
(a) marine waits there beforeit is finally taken
to the rest position at the bottom of the sea,
which is position D. Assume that
density of water and value of g is same eve
(b) rywhere.[INJSO 2012]

(c)

(d) Which of the following is correct for

buoyancy force at the 4 places?
(a) FA < FB = FC = FD
(b) FA < FB < FC < FD
(c) FA < FB = FC < FD
6. A diver releases bubbles of gas from the b (d) FA = FB = FC = FD
ottom of a lake. The bubbles increase to 10
times oftheir original volume when they re 8. Books A and B are made from paper of the
ach the surface. Assuming that the pressur same roll. The dimensions of book B are
e exerted by a columnof water of 5m heigh double those of book A. Both the books are
FLOTATION 18

kept with their largest area flat on a
horizontal table. Select the correct
statement.[INJSO 2013]
(a) Volume of book B is l times that of book
A.
(b) Pressure exerted by book B on the table
is 4 times that by book A.
(c) Weight of book B is 4 times that of book
A
(d) None of the statements above is correct.
9. The atmospheric pressure on the earth’s
surface is PaN/m2. A table of area 2 m2 is
tilted at 450 to the horizontal. The force on
the top surface of the table due to the
atmosphere is (in newtons):[INJSO 2013]
(a) 2Pa
IV. During upward motion, from position
(2), the velocity of the block increases
linearly till it reaches position (1).
Which of the above statements are correct?
[INJSO 2013]
(a) I, II, III and IV
(b) I, II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I and II only
11. Let W be the weight of the block. Upthrust
(U) experienced by the block is plotted
against upward distance (d) travelled by the
block from position (2) until it reaches
position (1). Select the option showing
correct nature of the graph.[INJSO 2013]
(a)

(b) 2Pa

(c) 2 2Pa

(d) Pa / 2

(b)
10. Consider following statements.
I. At position (1), the vertical distance from
surface of the liquid to the bottom of the
block is m/h2ρ.
II. After removal of force F, the upward
velocity of the block continuously increases
(c)
until it reaches position (1).
III. During upward motion, after crossing
position (1), the velocity of the block goes
on decreasing.
FLOTATION 19

(a) Air Resistance Resultant Force

(b) Air Resistance Weight
(c) Up thrust Resultant Force
(d) Up thrust Weight
14. Figure given below shows a small boat,
containing some iron balls, floating on a
still lake. These iron blocks are now
dropped into the lake. Select the WRONG
statement.[INJSO 2015]

(d)
12. Child drinks a liquid of density ρ through a
vertical straw. Atmospheric pressure is P0
and the child is capable of lowering the
pressure at the top of the straw by 10%. The
acceleration of the free fall is g. What is the
maximum length of straw that would enable
the child to drink the liquid?[INJSO 2014]
(a) P0/10 g
(b) 9P0/10 g
(c) P0/g
(d) 10P0/g
13. A ball falls from rest through air and
eventually reaches a constant velocity. For
this fall, force X and Y vary with time as
shown.
(a) Level of the lake will fall, with ground
reference.
(b) The boat will rise, with water reference
(c) Level of the boat will rise, with ground
reference
(d) Water level will not change, from the
ground reference.
15. Weights of a metal ball recorded in air, in
water and in a liquid are 56 N, 49 N and 42
N respectively. Specific gravity (or relative
density) of the solid and that of the liquid is
respectively –[INJSO 2016]
(a) 8 & 6
(b) 8 & 2
(c) 8 & 1.4

Which of the following should be force X (d) 7 & 0.6

and Force Y?[INJSO 2014]

Force X Force Y
FLOTATION 20

16. A piece of ice, with a stone (denser than 18. A body with a density  is attached to a
water) embedded inside, is kept in a vessel spring that is known to stretch linearly with
containing water. Size and mass of the the applied force. The spring is held
stone is such that the stone – ice vertically such that the body is fully
combination is floating on water. When the immersed in a liquid of density 1 (< ). In
ice melts, what will happen to the level of this case, the spring stretches by a length x1.
water in the beaker? [INJSO 2016] When the same body is fully immersed in a
(a) Water level will rise liquid of density 2(<1), the spring
(b) Water level will fall stretches by x2. This implies that the density
(c) Water level will remain unchanged of the body () is given by the expression.
(d) Final level of water will depend upon [INJSO 2020]
actual density of the stone.
1x1 2 x2
(a)
x1  x2
17. A beaker of mass 50 g, with 262 g of water
1x2 2 x1
in it, is kept on a weighing machine. A (b)
x2  x1
uniform hollow brass ball of total volume
1x 2  2 x1
36 cc is inserted into the water in the (c)
x1  x2
beaker. It is observed that the ball floats on
1x2 2 x1
water. The weighing machine now reads (d)
x1  x2
400 g. Density of brass is 8 g/cc, while that
of the air inside the brass ball can be
neglected. Thickness of the brass used to
prepare the ball must be nearest to ______.
[INJSO 2018]
(a) 0.5 mm
(b) 0.8 mm
(c) 1 mm
(d) 1.2 mm
FLOTATION 21

ANSWERS KEY
EXERCISE – 1 (Basic Exercise)
1.b 8.b 15.c 22.c
2.c 9.a 16.c 23.a
3.b 10.c 17.b 24.a
4.c 11.b 18.c 25.c
5.b 12.a 19.a 26.d
6.c 13.d 20.d 27.d
7.c 14.d 21.d

EXERCISE – 2 (NSEJS Previous Year Question)

1.d 6.b 11.a 16.a
2.b 7.d 12.c 17.c
3.a 8.a 13.b
4.a 9.d 14.c
5.b 10.a 15.c

EXERCISE – 3 (INJSO Previous Year Question)

1. d 7. a 13.a
2. b 8. d 14.d
3. a 9. a 15.b
4. b 10.b 16.b
5. c 11.b 17.c
6. d 12.a 18.b