Why do ships not sink {made of metal} when a small stone would sink in water?

Question

Why do ships not sink {made of metal} when a small stone would sink in water?

Answer 1

water displacement

Answer 2

It's all about displacement.

Just had a conversation about concrete septic tanks that will float on the ground water. Displacement.

Answer 3

Water displacement.

Some colleges have concrete canoe competitions, concrete can float if its designed properly. Do a internet search on concrete canoes. I think there are some concrete helled sailboats too.

Food for thought.

Answer 4

A stone is a smaller  compact mass...the boat  spread out in a  manner to distribute the weight of the  craft..i cannot Quote you the physics equation of this..    Also larger boats    have a combination   water proof  compartments to keep them afloat... if you are out by the water where  large ships are  you wonder how these can  possibly stay afloat..  My son was in the  Navy and I seen the Queen  Mary in the  water  docked in  Liverno,Italy ..I was 2 miles  from there in  the water  by the  beach...I am in  the  water looking  at  this  beautiful boat/ship..  it rose out of the water  with  the    most  beautiful shape..the  ship at the waterline was  very  small compared to the top.. I asked  my son  how  can  this  be?    He said  what you see up on top ,in comparison what is below the waterline is  even more to compensate to stay afloat and  navigate

Answer 5

Buoyancy has to do with density, not weight. A piece of bread laid flat on the water will float longer than a piece of bread balled up and tossed in, even though they weigh the same amount.

Boats are designed in a specific way which allows them to float, based on the theory of water displacement.

This site explains it a bit more:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/questio...