Question

the boat and the ball are both made of the same piece of clay. choose the best explanation as to why one sinks and the other doesnt.
a. the boat floats and the ball sinks because they have different shapes.
b. the boat floats and the ball sinks because they have different mass.
c. the boat floats and the ball sinks because they are made of different elements.
d. the boat floats and the ball sinks because they are different colors.

Explanation:

The ability of an object to float or sink in a fluid is related to its density. When the same - mass piece of clay is shaped into a boat and a ball, the boat has a larger volume due to its shape. According to Archimedes' principle, the buoyant force acting on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. The boat can displace more water because of its shape, so it experiences a greater buoyant force and floats, while the ball with a smaller volume displaces less water and sinks.

Answer:

a. The boat floats and the ball sinks because they have different shapes.