Why does a plastic bottle float in water when it is closed and empty?a...
A closed and empty plastic bottle floats in water because it displaces a volume of water whose weight is greater than the weight of the bottle. The buoyant force on the bottle, which is equal to the weight of the displaced water, is sufficient to counteract the weight of the bottle, causing it to float.
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Why does a plastic bottle float in water when it is closed and empty?a...
Understanding Why a Plastic Bottle Floats
When examining why a closed and empty plastic bottle floats in water, we must consider the principles of density and buoyancy.
Density Comparison
- Density is defined as mass per unit volume.
- A closed, empty plastic bottle contains air, which is less dense than water.
- The overall density of the bottle (plastic + air) is lower than that of water, contributing to its ability to float.
Displacement of Water
- When the bottle is placed in water, it displaces a volume of water equal to its own submerged volume.
- According to Archimedes' principle, an object will float if it displaces a volume of water that weighs more than the object itself.
Weight of the Bottle
- The weight of the empty bottle is less than the weight of the water it displaces.
- This means that the buoyant force acting on the bottle is greater than the force of gravity pulling it down.
Conclusion
- Thus, the correct reason why the plastic bottle floats is that it displaces more water than its weight.
- Since the buoyant force exceeds the weight of the bottle, it remains afloat.
This phenomenon exemplifies the principles of buoyancy and explains why objects with lower density than the fluid they are in tend to float.