Why do some things float and others sink? Imagine a bathtub filled with water. If you drop in a small rock, it sinks, but if you put a big boat in, it floats! It’s all about how much water is pushed out of the way when something goes into the bath. A boat pushes out more water than its own weight, so it floats, while a rock pushes out less, and it sinks.
Examples
- A metal ball sinks in water but floats in mercury because mercury is denser.
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See also
- What is floating?
- Why do some objects float while others sink in water?
- Why do boats float, even when made of heavy steel?
- Why Do Some People Float and Others Sink in Water?
- Why do icebergs float?