AFOQT Practice Test

Which term best describes the upward force experienced by floating objects?

1. Normal force

2. Buoyant force

3. Frictional force

4. Gravitational force

The correct answer is: Buoyant force

The upward force experienced by floating objects is best described as the buoyant force. This force arises due to the pressure difference between the bottom and top of the submerged part of the object. According to Archimedes' principle, the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. This means that if an object is floating, the buoyant force acting on it balances its weight, allowing it to stay on the surface of the fluid. While normal force, frictional force, and gravitational force play important roles in various physical scenarios, they do not specifically describe the upward force acting on floating objects in a fluid context. Normal force acts perpendicular to surfaces in contact, frictional force resists motion between surfaces, and gravitational force pulls objects toward the center of the Earth. Thus, the unique interaction between an object and the fluid it displaces is aptly encapsulated by the term buoyant force.