Final answer:
The buoyant force is the force exerted by a fluid when supporting its own weight. It is a result of Archimedes' principle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force exerted by a fluid when supporting its own weight is called buoyant force. This force is a result of Archimedes' principle, which states that the buoyant force on an object equals the weight of the fluid it displaces. When an object is submerged in a fluid, it experiences an upward force due to the pressure difference between the top and bottom of the object.