It looks like you've uploaded a worksheet titled
"How does a steel ship float?" from a science or physics education resource. The page appears to be designed for students, likely in middle school or early high school, and it explores the concept of
buoyancy—specifically, why a heavy steel ship can float on water.
Let me solve the problem and explain the solution based on the content visible in your image.
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🔍 Main Question:
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"How does a steel ship float?"
This is a classic question that introduces the principle of
Archimedes' Principle.
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✔ Answer (Solution):
A steel ship floats because of
buoyant force, which is an upward force exerted by a fluid (like water) on an object submerged in it. According to
Archimedes' Principle, the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
Even though steel is denser than water and would sink if it were solid, a ship is not a solid block of steel. It's shaped like a
hollow hull, which displaces a large volume of water. This allows the
average density of the entire ship (including air inside) to be
less than the density of water, so it floats.
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🧠 Key Concepts Explained:
1.
Density & Buoyancy:
- Density = mass / volume.
- Objects less dense than water float; those more dense sink.
- A steel ship has a lot of empty space (air), lowering its average density.
2.
Displacement:
- When a ship enters water, it pushes water out of the way (displaces it).
- The amount of water displaced weighs as much as the ship.
- If the displaced water weighs more than the ship, it floats.
3.
Shape Matters:
- A solid block of steel sinks because it doesn’t displace enough water.
- But a ship’s wide, hollow shape displaces a large volume of water → creates enough buoyant force to support its weight.
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📌 Example from Worksheet:
The worksheet likely includes a diagram showing:
- A solid steel block sinking.
- A steel ship floating because of its shape and displacement.
It may also have a section asking students to compare:
- Weight of the ship
- Weight of water displaced
If these are equal, the ship floats.
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💡 Summary Answer (for Students):
> A steel ship floats because it is shaped like a hollow box that displaces a large amount of water. Even though steel is heavy, the ship's design makes its overall average density less than water. The upward buoyant force from the water equals the ship's weight, so it floats — just like a piece of wood!
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✔ Final Answer:
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A steel ship floats because its shape allows it to displace enough water so that the buoyant force equals the ship’s weight, even though steel is denser than water.
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If you'd like, I can help create a student-friendly explanation, fill in missing parts of the worksheet, or turn this into a teaching guide! Let me know how I can assist further.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of density and buoyancy worksheet.
