| | How do ships float? |
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Huge ships are made from steel plates that weigh tens of thousands of tonnes. Irrespective of their heavy weight, ships float on water because of its shape. The hull of a large ship takes up a great deal of volume, but its overall density is less than the density of water. The weight of the water that it displaces equals the weight of the ship. In other words, the displaced water creates an upwards force(upthrust) that exactly balances the downwards force of the ship's weight. This upward push on a floating object is called 'buoyant force' or simply 'buoyancy'.
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Thus, it's not the weight of the ship that matters, but its shape. A steel block (even one that weighed much less than a ship) would sink instantly, because it is denser than water. A steel block displaces less water than the block weighs and thus cannot stay afloat. But a ship, with its outwardly–curved sides pushes aside – or displaces – a great deal of water. Enough to float the ship and its load. |
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