The density of an object compared to the density of a liquid determines its buoyancy. If the object’s density is less than the liquid’s, it floats. If the object’s density is greater, it sinks.
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Objects with a density less than that of the liquid float on the liquid. This occurs because the upthrust or buoyant force from the liquid is greater than the weight of the object.
When the density of an object is less than the density of water, the upthrust of water on the object is greater than the weight of the object, causing it to float.
Density is defined as the mass per unit volume of a substance, typically expressed in units such as kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) or grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³), indicating how compact matter is.
The cork floats because its density is less than the density of water, resulting in an upthrust that is greater than its weight, whereas the nail sinks due to its higher density.
The upthrust of water is the upward force exerted by the water on an object submerged in it.
The iron nail sinks in water because the downward force due to gravitational attraction on the nail is greater than the upthrust of water on the nail.