What force do objects experience when submerged in water?

When an object is submerged in water, it experiences a force known as upthrust, also referred to as buoyancy. This force is directed upward and acts against the weight of the object, which is pulled down by gravity.

The phenomenon of upthrust can be explained using Archimedes’ principle, which states that any object that is wholly or partially immersed in a fluid experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid that the object displaces. This means that if an object is submerged in water, it displaces a certain volume of water, and the weight of that displaced water corresponds to the upthrust force acting on the object.

It's important to recognize that while gravity exerts a downward force on the object (its weight), the upthrust acts in the opposite direction, influencing whether the object will sink or float. If the upthrust is greater than the weight, the object will rise or float; if the upthrust is less, it will sink.

When considering the other forces, weight reflects the gravitational force on the object, but it does not account for the upward force of the displaced water. Friction, on the other hand, is a force that resists motion and is not primarily relevant