General Science • PhysicsMedium
Why does a piece of iron sink in pure water while a massive steel ship floats effortlessly on the surface?
A. The ship is hollow, making its average density less than that of water.✓ Correct Answer
B. Iron lacks the magnetic properties required to stay afloat.
C. Surface tension forces are greater on large vessels than on small objects.
D. Atmospheric pressure pushes down harder on iron nails than on steel hulls.
💡 Solution & Explanation
Floating relies on Archimedes principle, where an object floats if its average density is less than the fluid it displaces. Although steel is denser than water, a ship is designed with a hollow hull filled with air, significantly lowering its overall average density below that of water. Surface tension and atmospheric pressure play negligible roles in macroscopic buoyancy.
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