Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2020

Abstract

The study of buoyancy is common in physics classrooms. In the last 20 years, several educators have described, theoretically and experimentally, buoyant forces and Archimedes’ principle, both in The Physics Teacher1- 8 and elsewhere.9-16 However, as far as I know, no one has reported on the pedagogical implications and experimental results of measuring the buoyant force acting on a submerged object using the overflow can method and a surface tension lowering agent (soapy water), as described in an online You- Tube video aimed at teachers and produced by PASCO.17 This article critically examines the claims presented in this video using experimental data and teacher advice.

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