2006-12-18 04:37:22 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If the object is denser than the liquid, then it will sink. Yes, the metal that makes up a cruise ship is denser than the water which supports it. However, if you look at the effective density of the cruise ship ( the total mass of the cruise ship divided by the total volume of the ship), then you'll find that it is less than the density of water; hence it floats.
The point here is that if an object weighs more than the mass of water it displaces, it will sink. If it weighs less, then it will float.
2006-12-18 04:49:22 · answer #1 · answered by Michael S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tink good question but it's not the mass of the object as much as it is the density, and buoyancy.
I was reminded of this a few years back as i was taking swimming lessons. At the time i weighed close to 170, as soon as i stopped moving i sank to the bottom of the pool. However some people taking the class, well over the 250 lb mark were skimming along the surface.
The point is muscle is denser than fat, so i had more of a tendency to sink in shallow water, than the larger people. On top of having less muscle density than i did, their larger bodies, having more surface area helped them with buoyancy.
2006-12-18 12:54:10 · answer #2 · answered by cookiemnster73 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Density is a measure of mass per unit of volume, objects floats if it density is less than that of the other material, and sinks if it's density is higher than the other material.
Oil is less dense than water and doesn't diffuse so oil float on top of water. Most solid materials are more dense than water and thus sink. Now for the next question if ships are made of metal why do they float. That is due to buoyancy, which is another story.
2006-12-18 12:50:24 · answer #3 · answered by Brian K² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes...but if this same object was was turned into a bouyant, say boat shape,then the volume occupied by the object in the water would be equal to the force of the water pushing it up...the heavier the object, the bigger (or more volume) it would require..dont have books here..check out Archimedes Principle.
2006-12-18 12:58:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope.
An object sinks when the weigth of water displaced by the
object is less than the weigth of the object.
This is clarified by archimedes law.
2006-12-18 12:54:43 · answer #5 · answered by Mosh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no. the object is probably not heavier than the sum of the total weight of the liquid, but it is more dense. that is why it sinks.
2006-12-18 12:40:18 · answer #6 · answered by Justin H 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. If that was the case than how would you explain a cruise ship.
2006-12-18 12:44:15 · answer #7 · answered by dh 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋