does archimedes' principle refer to floating, submerged, or both, objects?

Answer 1

w = W - B; where w is the effective weight, W is the weight out of the fluid = mg, m is the mass of the object, B is the buoyancy, and g ~ 9.81 m/sec^2 on Earth's surface. This is Archimedes principle as an equation; it applies to sinking and floating objects. So the answer is...both.

When the object floats w = 0 = W - B; so the weight of the object outside the fluid is exactly offset by the buoyancy force B. Buoyancy B = rho g V; where rho is the mass density of the fluid and V is the volume of fluid displaced by the object. The object floats because the net forces f = ma = W - B = 0; so that a = 0 and the object is no longer accelerating. The object will oscillate back and forth a bit and settle down at the depth where W = B.

When the object sinks w = W - B > 0; so that W > B and the buoyancy force does not completely offset the weight. This results because f = ma = W - B > 0; so that a > 0 and the object is accelerating downward. It will continue downward until a = 0 at which time a < 0 will happen and the object will begin to slow down and, perhaps, rise a bit. And then a > 0 might happen again.; an oscillation will occur The cycle will repeat, and the object will oscillate up and down until the frictional forces of the fluid burn off all the energy and the object will simply stay at one level (could be on the bottom or anywhere between there and the surface).

And that's what Archimedes discoverd playing in his bathtup with his rubber ducky. Just kidding.

Answer 2

yes it involves both because it refers to when and object is partly or totally