Final answer:
The buoyant force and an object's weight act in opposite directions, with their relative strengths determining whether the object floats, sinks, or remains neutral in fluid. They are equal only when the object is neutrally buoyant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The weight of an object and the buoyant force exerted on it when placed in a fluid have a significant relationship. Statement A is true: they work in opposite directions since weight pulls down due to gravity while buoyant force pushes up. Statement C is also true because these two forces determine whether an object floats or sinks. However, Statement B is not always true as they are only equal when the object is suspended in fluid. When an object floats, the buoyant force is greater than the object’s weight, and when the object sinks, the buoyant force is less.
According to Archimedes' principle, the buoyant force on an object equal the weight of the fluid it displaces. This principle is key in understanding the behavior of objects in fluids and contributes to whether an object will float, sink, or remain neutral in the fluid depending on the relative strengths of the weight and buoyant force.