Two blocks of identical mass are placed in water. One is made of aluminum, the other of wood. The wood block is noted and therefore floating. Upon which is the buoyant force greater? 1) on the aluminum block, 2) on the wood block or 3) they both experience the same buoyant force.

Answer 1

the bouyant force depends on water displaced. The buoyant force on the wood is equal to the mass of the wood.

The aluminum is denser than the wood, lets say 4 times.

volume of aluminum=1/4 volume of wood.
Lets pretend the wood has .6 volume submerged, so the volume of aluminum submerged is .6(.25) volume of wood submerged, so the bouyant force then on the aluminum must be .6*.25 the bouyant force on the wood.