TheAlgorithms/Python · error · ValueError

Impossible object volume

Error message

Impossible object volume

What it means

Raised by archimedes_principle when the volume argument is <= 0. The displaced-fluid volume must be strictly positive for the buoyant-force formula to be meaningful; zero or negative submerged volume is rejected. It is the second check, so a bad density raises first.

Source

Thrown at physics/archimedes_principle_of_buoyant_force.py:52

    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: Impossible object volume
    >>> archimedes_principle(fluid_density=0, volume=0.7)
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: Impossible fluid density
    >>> archimedes_principle(fluid_density=997, volume=0.7, gravity=0)
    0.0
    >>> archimedes_principle(fluid_density=997, volume=0.7, gravity=-9.8)
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: Impossible gravity
    """

    if fluid_density <= 0:
        raise ValueError("Impossible fluid density")
    if volume <= 0:
        raise ValueError("Impossible object volume")
    if gravity < 0:
        raise ValueError("Impossible gravity")

    return fluid_density * gravity * volume


if __name__ == "__main__":
    import doctest

    doctest.testmod()

View on GitHub (pinned to f5988cc097)

Solutions

1. Pass a positive submerged volume in m^3; double-check the submerged fraction if only part of the object is immersed
2. Fix upstream geometry: use abs() or reorder operands so length/height computations cannot go negative
3. Guard degenerate shapes before the call if a zero-volume object is possible in your domain

Example fix

# before
archimedes_principle(fluid_density=997, volume=top - bottom, gravity=9.8)  # swapped -> negative

# after
archimedes_principle(fluid_density=997, volume=abs(top - bottom), gravity=9.8)

def valid_volume(volume) -> bool:
    return volume > 0

When it happens

Trigger: Calling archimedes_principle(volume=0, ...) or archimedes_principle(volume=-2.5, ...), for example when an object is fully outside the fluid or a geometry computation returns 0.

Common situations: Volume computed from dimensions that are zero (degenerate shape) or negative due to an ordering bug (e.g. height computed as top - bottom with swapped inputs).

Related errors

• Impossible fluid density
• Impossible gravity
• Invalid value for min_val or max_val (min_value < max_value)
• argument value for lower and higher must be(lower > higher)
• guess value must be within the range of lower and higher val

AI-assisted analysis of TheAlgorithms/Python@f5988cc097 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/c23eec50b86fe676. Report an issue: GitHub.