Why iron nail sink in water and ship floats in water?

Open in App

Solution

It’s because an iron ship is not completely solid. It has full of air filled in it. So the average density of the ship as a whole is less than the density of water. Therefore immersed portion of the ship displaces water equal to its weight. So the ship floats whereas a sheet of iron is compact and there are no air spaces inside it. Iron is denser than that of water. The weight of the sheet is greater than the weight of the water displaced by the sheet. So it sinks.

Suggest Corrections

Similar questions

Why do ships float whereas an iron nail sinks in water?

An iron nail sinks in water while an iron ship floats on water.

Explain the reason.

If we put iron nail in water it sinks and why doesn't a massive ship sink in water?

Join BYJU'S Learning Program