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SC002Lesson 6 of 1045 min

Archimedes' Principle

Why does a steel ship float while a small stone sinks? The answer, found over two thousand years ago, is the foundation of buoyancy control. A diver who understands it can predict how much weight they need, why they float up toward the end of a dive and why they sink more easily in a lake than the sea.

Objectives

  • State Archimedes' Principle
  • Explain positive, neutral and negative buoyancy
  • Predict how changes in water type, equipment and cylinder contents change buoyancy

Version 0.1, written by UiDive education team · Draft: awaiting technical review

Important: Independent education, not a diving qualification. Learn to dive with a qualified instructor.