Question

why does a soap dish float in a busket of water while a cake of soap sinks

Answer 1

Density of soap is higher than water therefore it sinks, where as soap dish is mainly made of plastic whose density is lower than water therefore it floats.

Answer 2

Hi there ..

Your Question is =>
Why does a soap dish float in a basket of water ,
while a cake of soap sinks ?

Here is the answer =>

Lets first see about the force that acts on the soap dish when it is immersed.

The upward force exerted by the fluid on the body immersed in it , is known as buoyant force or upthrust .

SO lets see the conditions that are required for an object to sink or float :

For an object to float , Its weight must be less than the buoyant force that is exerted by the fluid.

For an object to sink , its weight must be more than the buoyant force.

SO , lets see the first case :

Density of soap dish is less than the density of water.
Also , the buoyant force exerted by water on the soap dish is more than the weight of the soap dish .
Hence , it floats .


Density of soap is more than the density of water.
Also , the the buoyant force exerted by water on the soap dish is less than the weight of the soap dish .
Hence , it sinks.