What is Float: Definition and 117 Discussions

A float is a decorated platform, either built on a vehicle like a truck or towed behind one, which is a component of many festive parades, such as those of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, the Carnival in São Paulo, the Carnival of Viareggio, the Maltese Carnival, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Key West Fantasy Fest parade, the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the 500 Festival Parade in Indianapolis, the United States Presidential Inaugural Parade, and the Tournament of Roses Parade. For the latter event, floats are decorated entirely in flowers or other plant material.

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  1. J

    Archimedes's principle of float

    Homework Statement A swimming pool with 5 M length and 4 M width.A big layer of ice floats on the surface of the pool and above the layer of ice a rock with 40 KG mass and 5 R.D.,If the ice is melted and the rock fall, calculate the change in the height of water in the pool final answer...
  2. S

    Foam density required to float a certain weight

    I have a polymer processing teacher that has decided to give us a final exam with a bunch of questions we have not covered the entire semester. I've figured out most of them but this particular one has me stumped. I am given the dimensions for a part made of a known material and need to...
  3. T

    Why does the air we breath float on Earth?

    Why does air on Earth float? Obviously, lighter gases such as Helium and even hot air will float due to having a lowed density than the air around it. Why is it though that the base higher density gases that we breath float rather than sink to the ground? My belief is that gravity is simply too...
  4. J

    What would happen to the accuracy of a float gauge if the fluid it is

    What would happen to the accuracy of a float gauge if the fluid it is measuring is heated?
  5. R

    Will the scuba diver sink or float

    Homework Statement A scuba diver and her gear displace a volume of 65.0L and have a total mass of 68.0kg. What is the buoyant force on her and will the diver float or sink. Homework Equations FB=pFVg The Attempt at a Solution The first thing I did was find the weight of the diver...
  6. A

    Sink or float, high density low pressure VS low density high pressure

    Normally, an object with a high density will sink in a fluid with low density. What if, as depth increases, as in the case of the ocean, the pressure really gets cranked up -> Is it possible for a low-density, high-pressure fluid to float a high-density object, that, under normal conditions...
  7. F

    How much water is needed to float a ship

    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
  8. R

    How Does A Ship Float on A Glass Of Water

    Homework Statement How Does A Ship Float on A Glass Of Water other than that he didnt gave me any details or it is really possible for a ship float in a glass of water in concept of density and buoyancy it's just our first week in class and i don't really have any idea PLEASE HELP !
  9. A

    How Many Bytes Does Float Occupy Inside PIC Microcontroller?

    Homework Statement How many bytes does a variable of float data type occupy in the data memory of PIC microcontroller? Homework Equations None The Attempt at a Solution All I know, is that float data type has a size of 4 bytes, that's 32 bits. I'm not sure if it occupies...
  10. D

    I am doing a science experience prooving giant ships can float

    I am trying to prove why ultra large crude carriers and other kinds of ships can float, and why they are stable in water? The experiments need to be simple and doable at home. I also could use some formula for stability and dead weight and so on. Could someone please help me, maybe point me...
  11. J

    How to Make a Lead Ball Float: Finding the Optimal Thickness of the Wall

    Homework Statement Today In class(1st day of physics) the teacher paired us up and told us to figure out how to make a lead ball float in water. The ball has a radius of 1 meter and is made of lead. To make it float we can hollow it out and fill the empty space with air. For this problem we...
  12. M

    How do i make a heavy object float?

    I have a 5kg gel cell battery that i have calculated to have a buoyancy force of 36.739N and weight of 50N. I need a synthethic foam float to make it float in the water. How do i calculate to make it float?
  13. C

    Volume of water a ship must displace to float

    Homework Statement What volume of water must a ship that masses 2.00x10^5 kg displace to float? Homework Equations density = mass/volume density of water = 1.00x10^3 The Attempt at a Solution 200,000/1000 = 200 m^3 im guessing that in order to float you must displace your own...
  14. Y

    Density question - can a heavy object float in water ?

    Would a big ball weighing 100kg with a diameter of 1 meter float in water? I guess my question is, no matter how heavy an object might be, as long as it is less dense than water, it will float no matter what, right? Like even if that ball were made of a thick layer of steel (a few inches), as...
  15. Z

    Velocity of a Boat and Float vs. Water

    A boat is heading upstream when a float is dropped overboard and carried downstream. After 1 hour, when the boat is has traveled 2.0 km farther upstream, it turns around and catches up with the float 5.0 km downstream from the turnaround point. If the boat travels with constant velocity: How...
  16. C

    How does an object float on water?

    I know that for something to float on water it has to displace an amount of water equal to its weight or more than that . But why is this so ?
  17. T

    Mathematica Mathematica setting double vs. float

    Hi, I'm quite new to Mathematica, and I've been trying to use it to solve some PDE's numerically, and I eventually end up with a really large matrix I have to find the solution for. I was think the calculation would go by faster if I could take the precision of the numbers down. I think...
  18. A

    LaTeX Can LaTeX be Used to Draw on Floats?

    Dear all, I'd just like to know if it's possible to add let's say line on float with Latex. I use textpos package to add text but what about drawing? Thanks, Éric.
  19. Q

    Why do ice at the poles not float away?

    as per the title. does anyone know?
  20. A

    If a soda can could contain a vacuum, could it float?

    Say there was a theoretical soda can made of a super strong material that could hold up to the pressure of the atmosphere while weighing the same as a regular soda can. If everything was sucked out of the can, would it float in Earth's atmosphere? I think physics says it would float, but tell...
  21. T

    In order to float, how much water must ship displace?

    Homework Statement A ship that has a mass 10 million kg must displace how much fresh water in order to float? A. 10 million N B. 9.8 million N C. 98 million N D. 980 million N Wrong Points Earned: 0/1 Correct Answer: A Your D Homework Equations p=f/a density=rho...
  22. A

    Why Does Gas Float Upward: Investigating Mass Difference

    Why does gas float upwards instead of falling towards the Earth ? Is it a mass difference ?
  23. K

    Float & Fly Freely: Differentiating Space & Earth

    What is the difference between the float and fly and move freely in space first, and within the Earth's atmosphere?
  24. PainterGuy

    Understanding Data Types: Int, Float, and Unsigned Char

    hello everyone, :wink: will you help me out with some of the problems please? i will very much appreciate this kindness. :approve: will you please have a see on this google doc:-...
  25. J

    C code, converting float into integer

    Hi guys, i am using the C language and have created the following function: void counter (double c) { FILE *fp; char output[]="output.xls"; int n,p=0; int r=0; int i,j; float x=0; fp=fopen(output,"w"); fprintf(fp,"rmax\tnumber of particles within rmax\r\r\n"); for(n=1;n<=10;n++)...
  26. L

    Freely Floating Observer Crosses Event Horizon

    Can a freely floating observer do an experiment that tells him when he is crossing the event horizon?
  27. M

    Help with understanding gravity and why some things float?

    My understanding of Newtonian gravity is that every massive object creates a force vector field that exerts a force on every other massive object. I also understand that the Newtonian gravity model creates the same acceleration on another massive object regardless of its mass. My...
  28. G

    Understanding Radial Float - What is it?

    Hello everybody... another basic question. While trying interpreting a blueprint I stumbled on RADIAL FLOAT . Do you know a definition for a Radial Float? Thnx
  29. gttjohn

    Can something more heavy than water float

    hi all i just read that surface tension floats a ferry boat like the same way a pin can be placed very carefully on the surface of water, is this true, i always thought that if the boat displaced less water than it could hold it would float, i know there is huge holes in my logic but bare with...
  30. U

    C Programming: Output of Float Calculation

    The question is What will be the output? #include<stdio.h> int main(void) {float y=6/4; printf("%.1f\n",y);} The answer is 1.0 I got that right by trusting my senses:biggrin:; but I want to understand why.
  31. P

    I and Tim float a long string of closely spaced helium-filled

    I and Tim float a long string of closely spaced helium-filled balloons over his used-car lot. We secure both ends of the string to the ground several meters apart so that the balloons float over the lot in forming the shape of a catenary. Why that shape?
  32. H

    Why does stainless steel float when coated with wax?

    Properties of Matter (Fluids) Why is it possible to float a wax-coated stainless steel needle on the surface of water?
  33. A

    Bash range with negative and float numbers

    Edit: Why did my thread title change? #!/bin/bash A=0 B=0 while [ $B -lt 90 ] do for (( COUNTER=-4.5; COUNTER<=6; COUNTER+=0.1 )); do ./new3body $A $COUNTER 2 > outangle$A-$COUNTER 2>&1 done B=`echo "$B+1." |bc -l`...
  34. D

    How to Float Vertically in CSS?

    So, I've got a <table> full of <td>'s. And I want to have a <div> magically pop in sometimes, centered above a particular <td>. That is, I want it to partially COVER the content within the <td>. As is, I'm creating the <td>'s and <div>'s, but I just set the visibility to "hidden" until it's...
  35. D

    Python: Converting float into a 'time'

    Hello. Right now I've got two floats that represent times. say 9.5 for 9:30 and 16.5 for 4:30. Basically I want to compare these to the current time, which right now I am doing by saying dt=datetime.now() while 9.5 < float(dt.strftime('%H')) + float(dt.strftime('%M')/60) < 16.5...
  36. K

    Why do objects float in substances more dense than themselves?

    I've been thinking about this forever, and I can't figure it out. Let's explore a simplified situation: 2 moles of neon and 2 moles of helium are the same temperature in a box that is 100% efficient at trapping heat and the gases. The helium will "float" to the top of the box; why? It's less...
  37. S

    Calculating Mass An Object Can Float In The Ocean

    Homework Statement This is a general question, not something I have been assigned for a subject. I am just wondering how you can calculate the mass a float can support in the ocean. I have no idea how to go about working this out, any help would be greatly appreciated For example, how...
  38. H

    Quick question: how does air friction work?/why do things float

    is it just the reaction force of some object pushing down on the air? then how do things float? does the air friction over take the object? if so, then that means it isn't the reaction force then.. could someone clear this up for me? thank you
  39. K

    How Does Container Density Affect Its Sinking and Rising Velocity?

    Homework Statement 80 m2 Surface Area; 1,519,875 Pascals Pressure; 640 m3 Volume: 2 m x 8 m x 40 m Dimensions; Mass 650,000 kg; and there is 250,000 liters of water inside. If I let go of the container and allow it to sink what will be the velocity of sinking? If I pump out 20,000...
  40. M

    Research for a book - Would it float question

    It has been many years since my studies in physics and engineering in college. My wife is writing a novel, and had a question that I struggled to answer. If there were a container (empty) constructed of steel with a mass of 8000lbs, with dimensions of 40ft/8ft/8ft (assume inner dimensions)...
  41. L

    Calculating Number of Air Bubbles Needed for Sphere to Float in Water

    Homework Statement Water in a tank is uniformly bubbled with small identical air bubbles each having volume V0. A sphere of mass M and volume V floats in water due to the attachment of certain number of air bubbles in the surface.If dw is the density of water,and the minimum number of air...
  42. M

    Calculating Helium Needed for a Balloon to Float

    Homework Statement The mass of an unfilled balloon is 7.5g. How much helium has to be filled in the balloon to make it float in air? density of helium: 0.18kg/m^3 density of air: 1.29kg/m^3Homework Equations When I calculate the volume like this: (7.5*10^-3kg)/(0.18kg/m^3)=0.041m^3 and than I...
  43. Y

    Calculating float line for a cone shaped vessel

    Hello all, I'm trying to calculate the float line on a conical shaped vessel in water. The properties of the vessel are: Weight - 10kg Area of base of vessel - 0.311m2 I am using an equation I came across here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080317200108AA5yNzY"...
  44. S

    Can one float on petrol?Mechanics: in relation to one Swimming in the Dead Sea

    Can one swim in petrol? What would happen? Would one float?sink?
  45. ChrisPeace

    Do Massive Objects Float Above or Rest on the Fabric of Space?

    This is probably a very elementary question so I apologize in advance. Relativity says that objects of great mass warp the fabric space, hence why we experience gravity. Do objects of great mass simply warp and float ABOVE the fabric of space, or do they rest ON the fabric like marbles on...
  46. R

    How to Calculate the Volume for a Lead Balloon to Float with Helium?

    Homework Statement So the question is what volume is required to make a lead spherical balloon float. It is filled with helium, the P=10^5 Pa, the Temp is 300K and the thickness of the lead balloon shell is .1mm Any ideas on sending me in a direction with this one?Homework Equations The...
  47. M

    Python, making a float of a list

    I have made a list of data from a file, the file contains numbers and I want to calculate with the numbers. How do I make a float of a list where a[1] is: ['0.00500006128645'], I tried to just use float, but then I got: float() argument must be a string or a number
  48. M

    Coding Help: Formatting Float Output in C

    I'm very new to C. If I had a program like the one below, I was hoping someone could tell me how I should edit it so that the lines "printf("\n%20s%20f", "Half of 1", div1);" and "printf("\n%20s%20f", "Half of 2", div2);" output decimals without too many excess spaces. Currently when outputted...
  49. daniel_i_l

    Why Does a Drowned Bee Float and Bubble?

    Near my room there's a bee trap where bees fly into a kind of bottle half filled with juice and they eventually drown. For the first 2 days after drowning the bee floats. Then it sinks for a few days, and then it floats to the top again and is covered in bubbles. Why does this happen? Thanks.
  50. P

    Calculating Minimum Mass of Ice to Make an Object Float

    Hi. My physics knowledge is very limited, but I know a decent amount. I would greatly appreciate it if you could explain in as much detail as you can. Thanks. That said. Imagine you have a container of water in excess. You have a mass M of ice floating on top of the water. Tied to the ice...
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