How is buoyant force related to floating and sinking?

If the buoyant force on an object exceeds the object's weight, it will float. If the weight of the object exceeds the buoyancy force, the object will sink.

If the two forces (weight and buoyant force) are equal to each other, the object is said to be neutrally buoyant. This occurs when the object has the same average density as the fluid in which it is suspended. A neutrally buoyant object will stay at whatever height/depth it is placed in the fluid.

When the buoyant force exceeds the weight of the object, only part of the object will be submerged in the water. The volume of the object that is submerged will be equal to a volume of the water (or other fluid) fluid which has a mass equal to the whole mass of the floating object.