Why does our nail sink in water but a ship floats on it
Answers
Answer:
because of Archimidies Principle, as iron nail displaces more water than its weight.
The density of the nail (≈ 7.8 gcm-2) is more than the density of water (≈1 gcm-2), therefore the weight of the nail is more than the upthrust experienced by it causing it to sink.
However, A boat floats because the boat is hollow from inside and this space is filled with air which reduces the average density of the boat lower than that of water.
Thus even with a small portion of the boat submerged underwater, the weight of the water displaced by it becomes equal to the weight of the entire boat attaining a floating equilibrium.
According to the Principle of Floatation
If the weight of the object is greater than the upthrust, then the object will sink in the fluid.
If the weight of the object is equal to the upthrust, then the object is balanced making the object float.
Hence, A Boat floats in water whereas An Iron Nail sinks in water