When will an object float on a fluid's surface?
My answer: An object will float on a fluid's surface if only the object is less dense than the fluid?
Sounds good, but also if it does not break the surface tension of the water.
Your answer is correct! An object will float on a fluid's surface if its density is less than the density of the fluid it is placed in. To determine whether an object will float or sink, you can use the concept of buoyancy.
Buoyancy is the upward force exerted on an object immersed in a fluid (such as water or air). It is dependent on two factors: the density of the object and the density of the fluid.
If the density of the object is less than the density of the fluid, then the buoyant force exerted on the object will be greater than its weight, causing the object to float. In this case, the object displaces a volume of fluid that weighs more than the object itself.
If, on the other hand, the density of the object is greater than the density of the fluid, then the buoyant force will be less than its weight, causing the object to sink. In this scenario, the object displaces a volume of fluid that weighs less than the object.
So, to summarize, an object will float on a fluid's surface if its density is less than the density of the fluid it is immersed in.