Buoyancy Demo: Steel Balls

This is a demonstration of buoyancy using two steel balls of the same mass. One is solid, and sinks in water. The other is hollow, and floats.
This demonstration was created at Utah State University by Professor Boyd F. Edwards, assisted by James Coburn (demonstration specialist), David Evans (videography), and Rebecca Whitney (closed captions), with support from Jan Sojka, Physics Department Head, and Robert Wagner, Executive Vice Provost and Dean of Academic and Instructional Services.

[@iragray4954]

Thank you so much for creating a direct buoyancy comparison between 2 metal objects. So many buoyancy demos online use eggs, oranges, or unopened soda cans. Your demonstration, however, is the simplest and most direct comparison of two different buoyancies. Also, I just like the idea of working with metal shapes and objects way more than eggs, oranges, or unopened soda cans with their brand labels still advertising away. Thanks again!

[@physicsdemos]

Glad you like it, and thanks for commenting!

[@AJ5]

If the diameter of the steel ball is small enough (less than a millimeter), then it will also float due to surface tension between water and air :P

[@physicsdemos]

I imagine so.

[@ronaldijester]

This is called archimed3s

[@tony232cool]

why dont you prove dr Milner experiment