Final answer:
A vertical plate in water will experience a buoyant force due to fluid displacement as per Archimedes' principle. If this force is greater than its weight, it floats; otherwise, it sinks. The actual weight of the object does not change, but the buoyant force can make it seem lighter in water.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a vertical plate is submerged or partially submerged in water, it experiences several effects based on the principles of fluid dynamics and Archimedes' principle. Firstly, the plate creates a buoyant force, which is an upward force exerted by the fluid that opposes the weight of the immersed object. If this buoyant force is greater than the weight of the object, it will rise to the surface and float.
Conversely, if it is less than the object's weight, the object will sink. When removed, the plate is replaced by a volume of fluid equal to the plate's volume in the water, and the buoyancy force can be calculated as the weight of this displaced fluid. This same principle explains why objects of different shapes but identical mass can either float or sink.
For instance, a lump of clay shaped like a boat displaces more water than a lump, resulting in a greater buoyant force which allows it to float. However, it's important to note that buoyancy does not affect the object's actual weight, but provides an upward force that may make it seem less heavy in a fluid.