When there is only the brine (see Figure 1), the weight of the brine displaced (labelled A) is equal to the weight of the golf ball.

Let’s imagine the golf ball floating at the same level as before after oil has been added on top (see Figure 2). Since the golf ball now displaces oil as well, it must receive an additional upthrust that is equal to the weight of the displaced oil (labelled B). This means that at this level, there is a net upward force acting on the the golf ball. So surely the golf ball will float higher until the weight of the displaced brine plus oil equals the weight of the golf ball again (see Figure 3).

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Wait, are we certain that the Archimedes Principle is applicable even when an object is submerged in two different fluids? Let’s use the “water banana” trick again.

Imagine…