Why do some objects sink and others float?

What determines whether an object sinks or floats?

Is it accurate to say that heavy objects sink and light objects float?

Answer:

Objects sink or float depending on their density compared to the density of the fluid they are submerged in.

It is inaccurate to say that heavy objects sink and light objects float. The buoyant force acting on an object determines whether it sinks or floats. The buoyant force is the force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an immersed object. Objects that are less dense than the fluid they are in will float, while objects that are more dense will sink.

For example, a wooden block may be heavier than a plastic ball, but it will float in water because its density is less than the density of water. On the other hand, a metal ball may be lighter than a wooden block, but it will sink because its density is greater than the density of water. This shows that weight alone does not determine whether an object will sink or float.

Understanding the concept of density and buoyant force is crucial in explaining why some objects sink while others float. The relationship between the density of an object and the density of the fluid it is submerged in determines its buoyancy.