Question

A robotic submersible is being brought back on board a ship. What happens to the buoyant force as the submersible is lifted out of the water?

A. The buoyant force increases as the submersible is lifted.
B. The buoyant force remains constant.
C. The buoyant force decreases as the submersible is lifted.
D. The buoyant force depends on the shape of the submersible.

Answer 1

The buoyant force on the submersible decreases as it is lifted out of the water, because it displaces less water until eventually displacing none.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a robotic submersible is lifted out of the water, the buoyant force acting on it decreases. The buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces. As the submersible is lifted from the water, it displaces less water until it is no longer displacing any water once completely withdrawn from the water. Therefore, the correct answer to what happens to the buoyant force as the submersible is lifted out of the water is C. The buoyant force decreases as the submersible is lifted.