Calculating the hydrostatic force on a submerged body

The hydrostatic force is a force exerted by a fluid on a submerged body. This force comes from the weight of the fluid acting down on the submerged body, so it can be derived from the equation weight (in this case hydrostatic force)=massg and mass=densityvolume.  You can calculate the volume of the column of water above the object by multiplying the surface area of the object by the depth the object is submerged by. Calculate the mass of the object and density of the fluid and then substitute into the equation above to find the total force exerted on the submerged body.

SH
Answered by Samuel H. Physics tutor

8240 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is a vector?


How does light from distant stars show how fast they are moving away from us.


Explain the Doppler Shift Effect, and how it can be used to measure blood flow in the body.


How do I resolve forces on a slope?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning