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You are here: Home / Science / How does a steel ship float on water if metal is heavier than water?

How does a steel ship float on water if metal is heavier than water?

June 29, 2020 by Karen Hill

The easiest way to understand the science involved is to float a metal bowl.

While the metal itself is heavier than water and would normally sink like a stone, the shape spreads the weight over a large area.

So, while the metal’s weight causes the bowl to sink somewhat, the bowl’s rim is high enough that the bowl will not be totally engulfed by the water. A ship is not unlike a large bowl.

The surface area is much larger than you’d expect if you only see the top portion sitting above the water.

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Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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