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How do icebergs float for kids?

Published in Physics for Kids 2 mins read

Icebergs float because ice is actually less dense than liquid water!

Here's a simple explanation:

  • What is Density? Density is how much "stuff" (matter) is packed into a certain space. Think of it like this: imagine you have a box. If you fill it with feathers, it's light. If you fill it with rocks, it's heavy. The rocks are more dense than the feathers.

  • Normally, things get more dense when they get cold. Most liquids get smaller when they cool down, packing more of the "stuff" into the same space.

  • Water is Special! Water is different! When water gets colder, it gets more dense, just like other liquids. But only up to a point! When water reaches 39 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), it is at its most dense.

  • Then Water Freezes. As the water cools down even more and turns into ice, something special happens. The water molecules arrange themselves in a way that makes the ice take up more space than the water did.

  • More Space, Less Density. Because the ice takes up more space, but still has the same amount of "stuff" in it, it becomes less dense. Think of it like blowing up a balloon. The balloon is bigger, but it doesn't weigh more.

  • Floating Icebergs! Since the ice is less dense than the water, it floats! That's why icebergs, which are giant chunks of ice, float in the ocean. In fact, only about 1/10th of an iceberg is visible above the water. The rest is hidden underwater!

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