Let's analyze each statement one by one to determine which is **true**. --- **A. The buoyant force is caused by the weight of the submerged object.** - **Explanation:** The buoyant force is not caused by the weight of the object. It is caused by the pressure difference exerted by the fluid on the top and bottom of the object. - **Status:** **False** --- **B. The buoyant force is always greater than the weight of the displaced fluid.** - **Explanation:** According to Archimedes' Principle, the buoyant force **equals** the weight of the displaced fluid, not always greater. - **Status:** **False** --- **C. The buoyant force is a result of increasing pressure with depth.** - **Explanation:** This is the correct explanation. The pressure at the bottom of a submerged object is greater than at the top due to increased depth, and this difference causes the upward (buoyant) force. - **Status:** **True** --- **D. The buoyant force is independent of an object's submerged volume.** - **Explanation:** The buoyant force **depends** on the volume of fluid displaced, which is the same as the submerged volume of the object. - **Status:** **False** --- **E. For equal masses, the denser mass will have the greater buoyant force in a fluid.** - **Explanation:** If two objects have equal mass, the less dense one has a larger volume and will displace more fluid when submerged, so it will experience a greater buoyant force. So this is **incorrect**. - **Status:** **False** --- ## **Final Answer** **The correct and best answer is:** > **The buoyant force is a result of increasing pressure with depth.** **(Option C)** --- ### **Summary Table** | Option | Statement | True/False | Explanation | |--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | A | The buoyant force is caused by the weight of the submerged object. | False | Buoyant force is due to fluid pressure difference, not object’s weight. | | B | The buoyant force is always greater than the weight of the displaced fluid. | False | Buoyant force equals the weight of displaced fluid (Archimedes’ Principle). | | C | The buoyant force is a result of increasing pressure with depth. | **True** | Correct – pressure increases with depth, causing buoyant force. | | D | The buoyant force is independent of an object's submerged volume. | False | Buoyant force depends on submerged volume (volume of displaced fluid). | | E | For equal masses, the denser mass will have the greater buoyant force in a fluid.| False | Less dense object (with greater volume) will have greater buoyant force for equal masses. |