How does a boat float?
A boat floats because of buoyancy, or buoyant force as is the scientific name for downwards pull of gravity on the water being displaced by the boat, helping the boat stay afloat, despite the possible huge size of boats. An object’s density determines whether or not the buoyant force of a liquid can lift it, where density depends upon weight and size. Given two solid objects that are different sizes, but weigh the same, the smaller, more compact object is the denser of the two. Fluids also have density so when an object is placed in the fluid, it pushes aside some of the liquid and, if its density is greater than that of the fluid it displaces, it will sink and, if not, it will float.
