Why do iron ships float in water?

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  • Thread starter Thread starter Himal kharel
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    Floating Iron Ship
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SUMMARY

Iron ships float due to their design, which incorporates a large volume of air within a hull made of iron, significantly reducing the overall density of the ship compared to water. While an iron nail sinks because its density is greater than that of water, the average density of a ship is less than that of water due to the air-filled space inside. If water replaces the air in the hull, the ship's density increases, causing it to sink.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of density and buoyancy principles
  • Basic knowledge of Archimedes' principle
  • Familiarity with the concept of volume and mass
  • Awareness of material properties, specifically iron
NEXT STEPS
  • Research Archimedes' principle and its applications in fluid mechanics
  • Explore the concept of buoyancy in different materials
  • Investigate the design principles of naval architecture
  • Learn about the properties of iron and its applications in shipbuilding
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Students of physics, engineers in naval architecture, and anyone interested in the principles of buoyancy and material science.

Himal kharel
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If you drop an iron nail into water it sinks. But a ship made up of iron floats in water. Please explain this to me.
 
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Compare the density of an iron nail with the average density of the ship. (Is the inside of the ship, solid iron?)
 
Oh, come on!
If you drop an empty can it also floats. The ship is not a piece of iron: it is rather a large volume of air surrounded by just a little bit of iron. If you replace the air with water (which happens if you make a hole in the hull) it floats no longer...
 

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