In a stable floating condition, the buoyant force equals what?

In a stable floating condition, the buoyant force equals the weight of the object. This principle is derived from Archimedes’ principle, which states that a body immersed in a fluid experiences a buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body. When an object floats, it displaces a volume of water whose weight is equal to the weight of the object. As a result, when in equilibrium, these two forces—the weight of the object pulling downward and the buoyant force pushing upward—are equal.

Understanding why the buoyant force equals the object's weight is fundamental in buoyancy and flotation concepts, showing that for an object to float without sinking, it must displace a volume of water whose weight matches its own. This balance is what keeps the object afloat and stabilizes it in the fluid.