A solid metal cube of side 5.0 cm and density 8.0 g/cm³ is completely submerged in water of density 1.0 g/cm³. Calculate the upthrust experienced by the submerged cube. (Take g = 10 m/s²)

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. 1.25 N

  1. Step 1: Volume of cube: V = 5³ = 125 cm³ = 1.25 × 10⁻⁴ m³. Step 2. Archimedes' principle: Upthrust U = ρ_liquid × V × g = 1000 × (1.25 × 10⁻⁴) × 10 = 1.25 N. Answer: 1.25 N. Why not the others: 10.0 N is the weight of the metal cube in air; 1.00 N assumes volume 100 cm³; 2.50 N doubles the volume.

Practise more Mechanics, Thermal Physics and Waves.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination mock tests.