F2-26: BUOYANCY PARADOX - BALL IN TWO LIQUIDS

ID Code: F2-26
Purpose: Demonstrate buoyancy with a counterintuitive element.
Description: A ball floats in a beaker of water (at left in picture above). The ball sinks in a beaker of mineral spirit paint thinner (at right above). The mineral spirit paint thinner is immiscible with water, and will float above the water when poured slowly on top of water. Q: If the ball is floating on the water, what will happen to the ball when mineral spirits is slowly poured on top of the water? A: The ball will (a) move up, (b) move down, or (c) stay in the same position relative to the surface of the water.
Availability: Available