Why do iceberges float with only a tiny fraction of the ice above the surface of the sea?

Question

if anyone can tell me, that would be great. or, if anyone could find me a website, that would be great too! thanks!

Answer 1

Since the density of pure water ice is ca. 920 kg/m3, and that of sea water ca. 1025 kg/m3, typically, only one ninth of the volume of an iceberg is above water.


Here's a good source to begin with:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceberg

Answer 2

Water expands when it freezes, but not by a lot; this is due to the presence of hydrogen bonds, which are VERY strong, in water molecules. As a result, a given volume of ice is lighter than the same volume of liquid water, but not by a lot. The weight of the frozen water comprising the ice is still sufficient to cause most of the iceberg to be below the water line. The ratio of above water to below water ice is the same whether it's a single ice cube or an entire iceberg.

Answer 3

When water freezes, it expands.

Ice therefore is less dense than water.
Due to this difference in density between the water and the ice, only about 4/5ths of the ice is submerged.