Afterall, they do carry alot of weight...
2007-03-14 07:39:49 · 9 answers · asked by EK13 Photos 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I don't know where you get you information but they do sink.
2007-03-14 07:45:09 · answer #1 · answered by Cu Den 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ships are shaped so that they displace a LOT of volume. They also get loaded so that much of the weight is at fairly low levels in the boat and is TIED down or otherwise SECURE. (IT wouldn't be good to have it free to move about!) Then, provided that:
(1) the MEAN density of the displaced volume of the boat and its contained contents is LESS than that of seawater (slightly higher than 1gm/cc), and
(2) the centre of gravity of the ship plus its cargo lies below the so-called centre of pressure,
the boat will be stable, and not sink.
Note that NONE of the earlier responders (dudara, Oz, fanda, chefantwon) considered the question of STABILITY. Yet that is ESSENTIAL! It's easy and simple to quote the displacement principle due to Archimedes, but if the centre of pressure is TOO HIGH, that Archimidean force will tip the boat OVER!
Live long and prosper.
2007-03-14 07:58:15 · answer #2 · answered by Dr Spock 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all comes back to Archimedes' principle.
Think about how much water the ship displaces, or pushes out of the way. There is an upwards or buoyant force equal to the weight of the water displaced. As long as the weight of the ship is less than the weight of the water displaced, it will float.
2007-03-14 07:45:20 · answer #3 · answered by dudara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the bottoms of ships aren't flat, they're slanted in order for the maximum force from uptrust to be greater than the weight of the ship + cargo
This uptrust is what keeps boats afloat.
2007-03-14 07:45:25 · answer #4 · answered by Oz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea they do weigh a lot, and so does water.
Its called surface tension....
Ever see a bug that walks across the water and that's it.
With a boat, it displaces the water. As long as the ship doesn't get too heavy, it will stay afloat.
2007-03-14 07:46:53 · answer #5 · answered by chefantwon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The weight of the water that they displace is greater than the gross weight of the ship.
2007-03-14 07:58:19 · answer #6 · answered by kim_dude2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ship overall density is less than water.
2007-03-14 09:20:45 · answer #7 · answered by sel_bos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bernoulli's principle
2007-03-14 08:00:48 · answer #8 · answered by Evelyn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever heard about Archimedes' principle?
2007-03-14 07:45:55 · answer #9 · answered by fanda 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋