Buoyancy of an aerated liquid (source code)

= Buoyancy of an aerated liquid
{title2=$\rho_{\rm mix}=(1-\alpha)\rho_\ell+\alpha\rho_g$}

For a quasihydrostatic bubbly mixture with gas <void fraction> $\alpha$, volume averaging gives the displayed <mass density>. A body displacing mixture volume $V$ has approximate <buoyant force> $\rho_{\rm mix}gV$. A floating body of mass $m$ therefore needs $V=m/\rho_{\rm mix}$; gas release can increase its draft until the required displacement exceeds its available watertight volume. This mechanism explains a possible loss of flotation without making sinking inevitable in every gas plume. Upward liquid flow, turbulence and nonuniform bubble distributions require additional hydrodynamic forces beyond this simple mixture model.