How do cruise ships stay afloat?

Question

How do cruise ships stay afloat?

Answer 1

Since the ship hull is full of air, which is lighter than water, it adds up to over all buoyancy.

Answer 2

More precisely the hull of the ship DISPLACES a volume of water, the mass of which is greater than the mass of the ship.

If the amount of steel, etc used in the construction of the ship were compacted, it would sink.

As an experiment, take a piece of aluminum foil and set it in sink ful of water.  It will float.  Now, ball it up tightly.  It will sink.  That is because, while the mass (weight) of the foil has not changed, it displaces less water when balled up than it does as a flat sheet.

Answer 3

It may seem odd that an enormous ship can float when steel is more dense than water.  However, if you look at the entire ship you see that there are many places filled with things less dense than water, like air.  This means that the density of the entire ship is less dense than that of water and it floats.

Answer 4

pick dave for the best answer ^^^