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How Can I Make Metal Float?

Most metals are much denser than water, so when you put them in water, they sink. If you shape the metal so it surrounds a central air space, however, you increase the amount of water displaced by the metal without substantially increasing its weight. Once the weight of the water displaced is greater than the weight of the metal object, it will float. This is the first principle of buoyancy, and exactly why heavy boats made of steel can float on water. You can simulate this property yourself by making an aluminum foil boat that will float. To further test your boat's buoyancy, add "cargo" in the form of small coins.

Things You'll Need

Aluminum foil
Bowl of water
Piece of metal (e.g., small coin; optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Tear out a nice big sheet of aluminum foil. The bigger the sheet, the bigger your boat will be, so choose the size according to the desired size of your boat.
- 2
  Take all four corners of your aluminum sheet and fold them inward so they all meet at the center. This will create four new corners. Take these four new corners and fold them inward so they meet at the center. You will now have a square of aluminum that is much thicker than before.
- 3
  Bend the foil into the shape of a square boat by twisting up the sides. The higher the sides, the better -- this way, your boat will be able to float lower in the water and carry more cargo without sinking.
- 4
  Place your boat in a bowl of water, and it should float. Place a piece of metal like a coin inside the boat and watch to see what happens. How many coins will it take to sink your boat?

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