Final answer:
The force exerted by water below a floating object is called the buoyant force, which is an upward force that allows the object to float according to Archimedes' Principle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The water underneath a floating object exerts an upward push or force known as buoyant force. This force is crucial in supporting the object and is responsible for its ability to float. The concept is rooted in the understanding that pressure increases with depth in a fluid. This increasing pressure generates a net upward force that is greater on the bottom of an object than the downward force on top.
Archimedes' Principle elaborates on this phenomenon by stating that the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. Therefore, if the buoyant force is greater than the object's weight, the object will float. Conversely, if the buoyant force is less, the object will sink. And if both forces are equal, the object remains suspended at a constant depth within the fluid. This principle applies to objects whether they are floating, sinking, or suspended in a fluid.
Understanding specific gravity, which compares the density of an object to that of water, can also help predict whether an object will float or sink. This is because specific gravity gives us an indication of an object's relative buoyancy in water.