Buoyant Object Acceleration Physics

The main concept for this project is how buoyant objects behave in a fluid. Since the object is buoyant in the fluid (as given by the scenario) the fluid pushes the object from all sides, and it moves up. When the buoyant object and the fluid it is surrounded in accelerate, the fluid moves back because its container is accelerating and pushes it (Newton's 1st Law). Because the fluid is denser than the object, it moves back and pushes the object forward, creating an unusual effect. We hope to measure the change in the angle of the buoyant object and use that to find the acceleration. 

The acceleration should = g tan Ø, as given by this derivation: 

For information about the project's electronics go here. 

For information about the project's tracking software go here. 

For information about 3d modeling for the project go here.