When a body is immersed wholly or partially in a liquid, it is lifted up by a force equal to the weight of liquid displaced by the body. This statement is known as Archimede’s principle.

The tendency of a liquid to uplift an immersed body, because of the upward thrust of the liquid, is known as buoyancy. The force tending to lift up the body is called the force of buoyancy or buoyant force and it is equal to the weight of the liquid displaced. The point through which the buoyant force is supposed to act, is known as centre of buoyancy. It may be noted that

●      If the force of buoyancy is more than the weight of the liquid displaced, then the body will float.

●      If the force of buoyancy is less than the weight of the liquid displaced, then the body will sink down.