Why do surfboards float? I know is has to do with density
2007-07-11 08:01:39 · 8 answers · asked by ~Mir-Zombie~ 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
and please notice it has to do with DENSITY!!!
2007-07-11 08:47:52 · update #1
Simplest answer; they are lighter than water.
2007-07-11 08:07:39 · answer #1 · answered by Philip H 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Surfboards are made of rigid foam, which is plastic filled with little air bubble. So the density (weight/unit volume) is very low. Thus they displace very little water.
Objects float when the volume of displace water is less than the volume of the object itself.
Take a ship, for example. Ships float, even though made of steel, which doesn't float. That's because the combined weight of the steel *and* the air it contains, displaces less water than it's size would at first indicate.
2007-07-11 08:12:51 · answer #2 · answered by Charlie S 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Archimede's principle. If an object is in a fluid, the fluid exerts a force on the object equal to the weight of the displaced fluid. So to float, your surfboard needs to displace a critical volume of water with weight equal to its weight. So if your surfboard is less dense than water, then its volume is greater than the critical volume. The critical volume sits below the waterline and the rest sits above the waterline.
2007-07-11 08:05:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
The exact concept is called "buoyancy".
The volume of water that the board displaces weighs more than the board.
Because the water is more dense than the board, the same volume of water (the same as the volume of the board) weighs less than the board. Since it weighs less, gravity pulls it less, and it becomes buoyant in water.
Its the same principle that causes a helium baloon to float in air.
2007-07-11 08:21:24 · answer #4 · answered by Radzewicz 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If the weight of water displaced by an object is more than the weight of the object itself, it will float. ie the object is less dense than the water. If the weight of water displaced is exactly equal to the weight of the object it will neither float or sink, so if it is placed in the water it will sit in the water in the position it was placed.
2007-07-11 08:13:20 · answer #5 · answered by Chin 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because they are built around a foam core. The foam has trapped air bubbles in it.
2007-07-11 08:09:52 · answer #6 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They are made of fiberglass and inside its kindna like Styrofoam
2007-07-11 08:05:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
r
2014-01-13 15:05:48 · answer #8 · answered by S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋