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A material needs a lower density than water to float in water.

Ships float in water because their average density is lower than water. The average density includes the steel hull and the air inside the hull.

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14y ago
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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago
not true. Ships are in fact denser than water but he ship's hull is shaped in such a way, it causes water to go into a convection movement which forces it to stay above the water
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12y ago

a less denser liquid would float on top

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Q: Should a material have a higher or lower density to float in water?
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Why is density needed to know whether a substance will float or sink in water?

It's actually pretty easy. If the density of the substance is higher than the density of water, the object will sink. If the density of the substance is lower than the density of water, the object will float. Be aware though that various substances may have dissolved into the water, thus changing its density. For example, seawater has a different density than fresh water.


Will a density of 2.7 float?

Is this the density of a liquid or an object? If this is the density of a liquid and you want to make an object float, than the density of the object should be less than 2.7. If this is the density of an object you are trying to make float, than the density of the liquid should be greater than 2.7.


Why does some food float and some food not?

Whether an object floats or not depends on its density. Density is the amount of mass in a volume, or mass divided by volume. If and object's density is less than that of water, it will float in water, and if an objects density is higher than that of water, it will sink in water. raw material (fishballs will sink down);but it will floats when it is cook. why


What happens to substances that are less dense than the surrounding material?

There are a number of things that may happen to substances that are less dense than the surrounding material. In most cases, this is what will cause them to float on the surrounding material.


Why do some objects float or sink in water?

It depends on the density of an object. If the density is higher than the density of the liquid, the it sink. If it's less, it floats.

Related questions

Do materials with high density float or sink?

This depends on what the material is floating or sinking in. If an object in water that has a higher density than water will sink, but if it has a lower density it will float. For example, water has a density of 1.00 g/mL so if you put something with a density higher than 1 g/mL into it it will sink, but if the material you put in it has a density lower than 1 g/mL it will float.


Why is density needed to know whether a substance will float or sink in water?

It's actually pretty easy. If the density of the substance is higher than the density of water, the object will sink. If the density of the substance is lower than the density of water, the object will float. Be aware though that various substances may have dissolved into the water, thus changing its density. For example, seawater has a different density than fresh water.


What determines if a material will float in another?

Relative density.


Why does a cup of nothing float?

it has a higher density


How do materials that float differ from materials that sink?

The ones which float have a lower density than water, whereas those which sink have a higher density than water. However, also the shape the material is in influences whether it sinks or floats.


Does egg always float in salt water?

An egg will float in salt water depending on the amount of salt found in the water because this increases the density of the solution. The density of salt water should always be higher than the density of the egg in order for it to float.


What is the density of an object and how does it relate to the ability of the object to float in a liquid?

The density is the ratio between the mass and the volume of a material; an object float when this density is lower that the density of the liquid.


How can you use density to determine if an object will sink or float a fluid?

If the density of an object is lower than water then it will float, if the density is higher it will sink.


How do objects sink or float in water?

objects with higher density than water sink, ones with a lower density float


How is density related to floatation?

If an object has lower density than the fluid then it will float. If it has higher density then it will sink.


What type of material floats?

Any material that has less density than the liquid on which it is supposed to float.


How do objects float higher in salt water?

Objects float higher in salt water due the density caused by the salt, the more salt present in the water the higher the object will float.