Flotation of a solid In a liquid
Why does a solid float in a liquid? If we place a solid inside a liquid, it will float if it is less dense than the
liquid or it will sink if it is more dense than the liquid. Lets try it!
What we need
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Ice cubes
Water
Ethanol
Oil
3 cups
Substance or material Density (g/cm3)
ice
0,917
cork
0,250
liquid water
1,000
ethanol
0,789
oil
0,920
glycerin
1,260
air
0,00120
helium
0,000166
Densidades medidas a 25 ºC y 1atm
Procedure
Pour some water in one of the cups, some oil in another and some ethanol in the last one. Place an ice
cube in each cup. Relate the densities found on the table with what you observed.
RECORD your conclusions!
Remember to be careful when drawing conclusions about
buoyancy, since it also depends on things like shape. A metal
ship is denser than water, but still floats in it due to the
enormous amount of air it holds, because air is much less dense
than water.
Cargo
Air