In fluid mechanics, what is Archimedes' law fundamentally concerned with?

Archimedes' law, also known as the principle of buoyancy, fundamentally states that a body immersed in a fluid experiences an upward force, called buoyant force, that is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces. This principle is crucial in understanding why objects float or sink when placed in a fluid.

When a body is submerged in a fluid, the pressure exerted by the fluid increases with depth, but it is the volume of fluid displaced by the body that determines the magnitude of the buoyant force acting on it. This buoyant force is responsible for counteracting the weight of the object, thereby allowing it to float if the force exceeds the object's weight, or sink if it does not.

Understanding this principle is essential in various applications, including designing ships, submarines, and other structures that interact with fluids. It is also foundational in the study of hydrostatics and hydrodynamics, making it a key concept in fluid mechanics.