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What happened
A physicist explains the principles that allow massive cruise ships to float despite their enormous size and weight.
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Key insights
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1
Archimedes' Principle
Cruise ships float due to Archimedes' principle, which states that the upward buoyant force exerted on a body immersed in fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid the body displaces.
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Design and Engineering
The design of cruise ships is crucial to their buoyancy. The hull is shaped to displace enough water to support the weight of the ship, allowing it to float.
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Materials Used
Cruise ships are constructed from materials that provide a balance of strength and buoyancy, such as steel, which is used to create a hull that is both durable and capable of displacing a sufficient volume of water.