why do icebergs float?

Answer 1

because ice is less dense than water

Answer 2

Icebergs float in the oceans for the same that ice cubes float in a glass of water. Water has the unique property of being densest while a liquid. Therefore the solid form of water-ice-is lighter than the water it is in and floats on the surface.

Answer 3

In fact, an iceberg is nothing but a giant ice cube. When you throw an ice cube in a glass of water, it will float. Floating has nothing to do with size but all with weight. So the floating of an ice cube is just the same as floating of an iceberg. How is this possible.

When you take 1 litre (= 1 dm3=1000 cm3) of water and weigh it, you will see that 1 liter of water weighs 1 kilogramm, when you weigh 1 liter of icecubes you will find that the icecubes weigh less. You can try it with a box filled with water first and then with icecubes, although you'll need a very precise weighing device.
In the graphic you see the following:
From 50º C to 4º C water gets heavier (i.e. the density rises) from 0.988 gramms per cm3 (=988 grams per dm3) to 1.000 (=1000 grams per dm3).
When water gets colder than 4º C it becomes lighter, at 0º C it becomes ice and it weighs 0.9998425 grams per cm3, lets say 1 grams less per dm3.

The water temperature in the polar areas is 4º C at maximum, so icebergs will float.
Another aspect is the salinity of the seawater. Salinity makes water heavier. Salty ocean water weighs 1.025 grams per cm3, making the iceberg even easier to float.

Answer 4

When water cools down, the molecules tend to expand...
So for the Same Weight, the volume increases....
As the volume increases the Density of the ice berg decreases...
hence the iceberg floats on the water...

Answer 5

ice has lower relative density than water. The amount of the iceberg that shows above the sea surface will depend on the relative density of the ice and the water; ratios vary from 0.3:1 to 0.9:1.

Answer 6

yes they do sir. remember that is what sunk the Titanic' and we all remember the sinking of the Titanic. It was Ice that had melted and then when it warmed up broke apart and it floated, like all ice does, even though it was a hugh, and thick ice, it floated. Of coarse the salt water proabley help some since salt will help you float, so it would ice too.

Answer 7

Water is at it's most dense a 4C, or just over 39F. So ice, which is by definition colder than that, must also be lighter than the surrounding water.

This does also explain ice cubes.

Answer 8

Ice is less dense than water. I guess. Ice floats in a cup of water too so...it has to be....right?

Answer 9

Actually, just a part of them float...most of them are partially or mostly submerged due to the weight They are boyant or lighter than water because air molicules are entrained in the iceburg...

Answer 10

Because ice is less dense than water in its liquid state, and things that are less dense will float on liquids that are more dense.

Answer 11

because ice is lighter than water.
so ice can float on the water.