Why do things float

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Things float because of buoyancy — an upward force that a fluid (like water or air) pushes on an object.

Here’s the simple idea:

• When you put something in water, it pushes water out of the way (displaces it).

• The water pushes back upward with a force equal to the weight of the water displaced.

• If that upward push (the buoyant force) is stronger than the weight of the object, it floats.

• If it’s weaker, the object sinks.

💧 Example:

• A boat floats because its shape spreads its weight over a large area and traps air, making it less dense than the water it displaces.

• A rock sinks because it’s denser than the water, so the upward push isn’t enough to lift it.

So, in short:

Things float when they are less dense than the fluid they’re in