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    4. what is cause to heavy iron ship float in sea but not a iron nail????????
    what is cause to heavy iron ship float in sea but not a iron nail????????

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    0  Views: 2012 Answers: 3 Posted: 11 years ago
    Tags: graders
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      3 Answers

      Air trapped in the cavity of the ships hull gives it floatation.

      11 years ago. Rating: 5
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        mycatsmom

        The load the hull of those lake freighters with tons of iron ore and other metals .And the train car ferries that used to go across Lake Michigan were loaded with railroad cars, automobiles , and people. How in the heck did they float ? We used to take those ferries to go to Wisconisin when I was a kid.It was a 4 hour trip across the lake.
        commented 11 years ago
        Tommyh

        They also have floatation & ballast tanks incorporated in their hull design.
        commented 11 years ago
        mycatsmom

        ok.Glad you explained it,tommy.Then they have to pump water out of the ballast,don't they , Tommy ? An old,retired merchant marine off the great Lakes told me that.
        commented 11 years ago
        Tommyh

        MCM.In relation to your comment to Prassna.In smaller aluminium boats they actually do use styrofoam in the seats as floatation devices.
        commented 11 years ago

        Buoyancy, It has to do with mass and surface area of an object.  The ship displaces more water thus will float, the nail only sinks. 

        11 years ago. Rating: 4
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          mycatsmom

          that makes sense, bustie .
          commented 11 years ago

          good question, Prassna. I always wondered too, how those things float ?  Maybe the hull is stuffed with styra foam  :-\ 

          11 years ago. Rating: 1
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            praasna

            ha ha yah may be
            commented 11 years ago
            praasna

            ha ha yah may be
            commented 11 years ago


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