Question

A block of wood floats in water. Which of the following statements is correct?
The wood has a higher density than water
The wood has a higher density than water

The wood has a lower density than water
The wood has a lower density than water

The wood and water have the same density
The wood and water have the same density

The density of the wood cannot be determined

Answer 1

The correct statement is: **The wood has a lower density than water.**

This is because an object will float in a fluid if its density is lower than that of the fluid. Since the wood is floating, it indicates that its density is less than the density of water.

Answer 2

i thought it was always higher.

Answer 3

It's a common misconception! However, the principle of buoyancy dictates that an object will float in a fluid if its density is lower than the fluid's density.

In the case of a block of wood floating on water, it means that the density of the wood is indeed less than that of the water. If the density of an object is greater than that of the fluid, it will sink.

So, to clarify:
- **If an object floats**, its density is lower than that of the liquid.
- **If an object sinks**, its density is higher than that of the liquid.

In summary, since the wood is floating on the water, it must have a lower density than the water.