Question

What are TWO similarities and TWO differences between drag force and buoyant force?

a) Similarities: Both are fluid forces. Differences: Drag opposes motion, buoyant force supports.
b) Similarities: Both act in fluids. Differences: Drag depends on velocity, buoyant force on density.
c) Similarities: Both are in physics. Differences: Drag is in solids, buoyant force in liquids.
d) Similarities: Both affect buoyant objects. Differences: Drag force is independent of object shape.

Answer 1

Both drag force and buoyant force act on objects in fluids, but drag force opposes motion and depends on velocity, while buoyant force supports against gravity and is based on fluid density.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to drag force and buoyant force, which are two types of forces experienced by objects in fluid environments. Drag force is the resistance an object encounters moving through a fluid, while buoyant force is the net upward force on an object submerged in a fluid.

Similarities and Differences

Both drag force and buoyant force share some similarities:

Both forces act in fluids (liquids or gases).

Both are governed by principles in physics.

However, they also have important differences:

Drag force opposes motion and is dependent on factors like the object's velocity, shape, and the fluid's properties (proportional to the square of the velocity for large objects moving at moderate speeds).

Buoyant force supports an object against gravity and depends primarily on the density of the fluid and the volume of fluid displaced by the object, as stated by Archimedes' principle.

In conclusion, based on the provided information, the correct response to the student's question is option b): Both act in fluids. Differences: Drag depends on velocity, buoyant force on density.