What is the net effect of the upward force acting on submerged objects called?

The net effect of the upward force acting on submerged objects is known as the buoyant force. This force arises from the pressure difference exerted by the fluid on the object due to gravity, which acts more strongly on the lower part of the object than on the upper part. As a result, this pressure difference creates an upward force that can make an object partially or wholly float in a fluid.

The concept of buoyancy is based on Archimedes’ principle, which states that an object submerged in a fluid experiences a force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. This is why the buoyant force is specifically associated with submerged and floating objects, as it directly relates to how much fluid is displaced by the object and the density of that fluid.

In contrast, other terms like lift are more associated with aerodynamics and the forces acting on airfoils, weightlessness refers to the sensation of zero apparent weight experienced in free-fall conditions, and fluid force, although a broader term, does not specifically refer to the upward force acting on submerged objects. Thus, the buoyant force is the most accurate term to describe the upward force on submerged objects in a fluid.