How much water is needed to float a ship

In summary, there was a previous post discussing whether a ship can float in just a few liters of water. The thread cannot be found, but the topic was eventually located under "Related Discussions." It was determined that a boat, or any object, will float when it has displaced water equal to its mass. There were also other similar threads on this topic.
  • #1
Fizzicfanatic
3
0
Hi all.Some time ago there was a post regarding the the title of this post. ie is it possible for a ship to "float" in a mere few liters of water. I can not find the thread now. Does Admin have a link to this discussion please.
Thank you
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Please disregard the above post.I have now found the topic I was looking for,under Related Discussions.
 
  • #3
A boat (or any other object for that matter) floats once it has displaced an amount of water equal to its mass.
 
  • #5
for your question. The amount of water needed to float a ship depends on the size and weight of the ship. Generally, a ship needs to displace an amount of water equal to its own weight in order to float. This is known as Archimedes' principle, which states that the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. This means that a larger and heavier ship will require more water to float compared to a smaller and lighter ship. Additionally, factors such as the shape and density of the ship can also affect how much water is needed for it to float. In general, it is not possible for a ship to float in just a few liters of water, as even small boats require several cubic meters of water to displace in order to stay afloat. I hope this helps clarify the concept.
 

1. How is the amount of water needed to float a ship determined?

The amount of water needed to float a ship is determined by its displacement, which is the weight of the water it displaces. To calculate this, the weight of the ship and the density of the water it will float in are taken into account.

2. Can a ship float in any amount of water?

No, a ship can only float in a certain range of water depths. If the water is too shallow, the ship may hit the bottom and become stuck. If the water is too deep, the ship may become unstable and potentially capsize.

3. How do different types of ships require different amounts of water to float?

The amount of water needed to float a ship is dependent on its size, shape, and weight. A larger, heavier ship will require more water to displace and therefore need a deeper water depth compared to a smaller, lighter ship.

4. Can the amount of water needed to float a ship change?

Yes, the amount of water needed to float a ship can change depending on factors such as cargo weight, fuel load, and even the temperature and salinity of the water. This is why ships must constantly monitor their displacement and adjust accordingly.

5. How does the shape of a ship affect the amount of water needed to float?

The shape of a ship can greatly impact the amount of water needed to float it. A ship with a wider, flatter hull will displace more water and require a deeper water depth compared to a ship with a narrow, streamlined hull. This is why different types of ships have different ideal water depths for safe operation.

Similar threads

  • General Engineering
4
Replies
112
Views
7K
Replies
7
Views
715
  • General Discussion
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • General Discussion
Replies
15
Views
1K
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
15
Views
1K
Writing: Input Wanted Captain's choices on colony ships
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
2
Replies
52
Views
4K
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
3
Replies
96
Views
6K
Replies
9
Views
977
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
3
Replies
90
Views
6K
Back
Top