Final answer:
The buoyant force acting on the aluminum boat is equal to the weight of the boat.
Step-by-step explanation:
The buoyant force is the upward force exerted by a fluid (liquid or gas) on an object placed in it. This force is a result of the pressure difference between the top and bottom of the submerged or partially submerged object. The concept of buoyancy is most commonly observed in the context of objects floating in water, but it applies to any fluid.
The buoyant force acting on the aluminum boat can be calculated using Archimedes' principle. The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the water displaced by the boat. In this case, the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the boat, so the correct answer is (c) Equal to the weight of the boat.