Which term completes the phrase: in water, ____________ is the opposite of _____________?

The correct term to complete the phrase is "hydrostatic pressure" as it accurately denotes a force that is prevalent within a fluid, acting equally in all directions on an object submerged in the water. Hydrostatic pressure arises due to the weight of the water above the object, creating a pressure that counteracts the effects of gravity, which pulls objects towards the center of the earth.

When discussing the terms in the phrase, hydrostatic pressure can indeed be seen as the opposite of gravity in the context of water. While gravity pulls an object downwards, hydrostatic pressure applies an upward force that helps support that object, significantly influencing how it behaves when immersed in water.

Other terms do not fit as neatly into the context set by the question. Buoyancy refers to the force that allows objects to float, which is not a direct opposite of resistance. Weight and mass don’t directly oppose each other, as weight is a measure of the force due to gravity acting on mass. Gravity and lift are not directly opposite but rather considerations of forces acting on an object, where gravity pulls down and lift pushes up, but they do not represent the fundamental opposition in the same way hydrostatic pressure and gravity do in a water context.