Archimedes' principle is an essential concept in the study of buoyancy. It states that when an object is submerged in a fluid, it experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. This principle helps explain why objects appear to weigh less when placed in fluids. To understand this concept better, let's consider an example.

Imagine you have a solid object with a volume of 100 cubic centimeters and a density of 2 grams per cubic centimeter. Now, if you immerse this object in a fluid with a density of 1 gram per cubic centimeter, it will experience an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. In this case, the fluid displaced would be 100 cubic centimeters, weighing 100 grams. Therefore, the object will experience an upward buoyant force of 100 grams.

Archimedes' principle has several applications in everyday life. For instance, it explains why objects made out of materials with lower density than water, such as wood or plastic, can float. It is also fundamental to understanding how ships and submarines stay afloat and how hot air balloons work.