An object floats when the buoyant force is large enough to counter the object's weight. So a large hollow object might float because large means more water displaced – so more buoyant force – and hollow means relatively little weight. ... So that's a lot of boat volume under the surface, all of which is displacing water.

Why do boats float simple explanation?

The air that is inside a ship is much less dense than water. That's what keeps it floating! ... As a ship is set in water, it pushes down and displaces an amount of water equal to its weight.

How do boats stay afloat?

An object will float if the gravitational (downward) force is less than the buoyancy (upward) force. So, in other words, an object will float if it weighs less than the amount of water it displaces. ... Plus, boats are designed specifically so that they will displace enough water to assure that they'll float easily.