Archimedes' Secret: Why Heavy Ships Float While Small Stones Sink

• Archimedes' Principle explains buoyancy: an upward force equals the weight of the fluid displaced.
• Ships are large and hollow, displacing vast amounts of water, generating a buoyant force greater than their weight.
• A small stone sinks because its weight is greater than the small buoyant force from the water it displaces.
• A ship floats because its average density (due to its hollow design) is less than that of water.
• Modern technology like computer-aided hull design, Plimsoll lines, and ballast tanks optimize ship buoyancy and stability.