why does clay boat float and clay ball sinks

Question

anonymous · Answer

Buoyancy. Archimedes' Principle states that the amount of upward force on an object is equal to the weight of fluid being displaced.  When clay is in a ball it is displacing the amount of water equal to its VOLUME.  When it is formed into a boat it is displacing an amount of water equal to its WEIGHT.  Assuming clay is denser than water, the second one would be greater.  F (bouyant) = m (clay) * g (gravitational constant of acceleration 9.8 m/sec^2)  where m should be in kg and F would be in newtons.