Question

An iron nail sinks and a cork floats when placed on the surface of water because density of cork is ......... ​

Answer 1

Explanation:

A cork floats in water while the iron nail sinks because the density of cork is less than that of water. Thus, the upthrust of water on the cork is greater than the weight of the cork. Hence, it floats.

Answer 2

An iron nail sinks and a cork floats when placed on the surface of water because density of cork is less than that of water.

Let's a learn a few facts about floating of objects:

• An object floats on a fluid (liquid or gas) only when its weight gets balanced by the upward thrust (buoyant force) exerted by the fluid.

• Buoyant force is directly dependent on the density of the fluid. So, higher the density of the fluid, higher will be the upthrust or buoyant force.

• However, an iron nail has higher density than that of water , so it's weight becomes greater than the buoyant force and it sinks.

• But , the density of cork is such that the buoyant force can oppose the weight of the cork and balance it, hence it floats.

The equation that represents floating is :

$\boxed{ \bold{Mg = F_{b} =V_{(in)} \times \rho g }}$

• V_(in) refers to the volume of object inside the fluid, $\rho$ is density of fluid and g is gravity.

$\star$ Hope It Helps.