Why can't the volume of an object that floats be found by the displacement method
There's no way to discover how much is above the surface of the liquid, right?
The volume of an object that floats cannot be found accurately using the displacement method because the object's weight is supported by buoyant force, which counteracts the weight of the object. This causes the object to partially or fully submerge in the liquid. As a result, the amount of liquid displaced by the submerged portion is less than the total volume of the object.
To determine the volume of an object accurately using the displacement method, the object must sink completely in the liquid without floating. However, when an object is floating, it means that the buoyant force acting on it is equal to the weight of the object, resulting in a state of equilibrium. In this case, the object doesn't displace its full volume of liquid because it only displaces an amount equal to the weight of the liquid that is equal to its own weight.
To calculate the volume of an object that floats accurately, other methods such as the geometric method or the Archimedes' principle can be used. These methods involve measuring dimensions or using the relationship between the weight of an object in air and its weight in the liquid to determine its volume.