Floating and Sinking

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library of New Zealand Topics

It’s density that allows oil, waka, ships and icebergs to float on water whereas rocks and anchors sink. Included are resources on salinity, swimming, lifejackets, submarines, the Archimedes principle and buoyancy experiments. SCIS no. 1867886

social_sciences, arts, history, technology, science

Image: Floating fern

Floating fern

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Icebergs

Science Learning Hub

Image: A FLOATING HOTEL. (Clutha Leader 17-4-1908)

A FLOATING HOTEL. (Clutha Leader 17-4-1908)

National Library of New Zealand

Argo floats rise and sink

How Argo floats rise and sink

Science Learning Hub

Message in a bottle

Message in bottle drifted for 108 years

Radio New Zealand

Image: A SINKING SHIP. (Mataura Ensign 19-4-1913)

A sinking ship

A SINKING SHIP. (Mataura Ensign 19-4-1913)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Submarine Fibre Optics

Submarine fibre optics

Submarine Fibre Optics

Radio New Zealand

Image: The first British submarine vessel coming to the surface

First British submarine

The first British submarine vessel coming to the surface

Auckland Libraries

Image: What causes sink holes?

Sinkholes

What causes sink holes?

Radio New Zealand

Image: Jacket, Life

Life jacket

Jacket, Life

Puke Ariki

Swimmers and swimming

Swimmers and Swimming. (Auckland Star, 16 September 1893)

National Library of New Zealand

Water density

Science Learning Hub

Image: Blocks of pumice

Blocks of pumice

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Mōkihi

Mōkihi

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Sinking the Wellington

Sinking the Wellington

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Wahine sinking in Wellington Harbour

Wahine sinks

Wahine sinking in Wellington Harbour

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: FLOATING MINES (Otago Daily Times 12-6-1919)

Floating mines

FLOATING MINES (Otago Daily Times 12-6-1919)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: A GIANT ICEBERG. (Clutha Leader 17-1-1911)

Giant iceberg

A GIANT ICEBERG. (Clutha Leader 17-1-1911)

National Library of New Zealand

The Titanic

Services to Schools

How do boats float?

Services to Schools

Sink or float

Services to Schools

Oil spills

Services to Schools

Why do things float?

Services to Schools

Buoyancy and density

Services to Schools

Bill Hamilton

Services to Schools

Plimsoll line

Services to Schools

The lava lamp

Services to Schools

Clouds floating

Services to Schools

Submarines

Services to Schools

Buoyancy

Services to Schools

Icebergs

Services to Schools

Life jackets

Services to Schools

Why does ice float?

Services to Schools

Balloon Buoyancy

Services to Schools

Wahine disaster

Services to Schools

Sink or float

Services to Schools

Float a boat

Services to Schools