If gravity exists, why the hell do we float in water?
Why do we float if gravity pulls us down? An explanation of Archimedes' principle and the density conspiracy.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The floating paradox: why gravity and density aren't at odds
If gravity pulls us toward the center of the Earth, how can a human body float in water without sinking? The answer, known for more than 2,000 years, still causes confusion among those who mistake force for density. In fact, even in the 21st century, some people see floating as evidence against the existence of gravity.
Archimedes' principle: older than the internet
A body submerged in a fluid experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. This is basic physics, not magic. Gravity acts on both the body and the fluid, but if the body is less dense, the net force is upward. Lungs full of air reduce the body's average density, allowing it to float. The same happens with a steel ship: its shape displaces enough water for the buoyant force to offset its weight.
The density-as-the-only-force argument
One school of thought holds that density is solely responsible and that gravity is an invention. They point out that a helium balloon rises and that oil floats on water. However, they forget that the pressure gradient that produces buoyancy itself originates from gravity. Without gravity, there would be no hydrostatic pressure and no floating. It is gravity that pulls the water downward, creating the pressure difference that pushes less dense objects upward.
From Archimedes to the Navier-Stokes equations
The debate doesn't stop at anecdotes: some have even invoked the Navier-Stokes equations, which include the gravitational term. But for the conspiracy-minded, even mathematics is suspect. The confusion persists because it is easier to believe in a magical force than in the curvature of spacetime, even though Archimedes' principle already explained it all in the bathtub.
The next time you float in a swimming pool, remember: you are not defeating gravity, you are proving that you know how to swim within the laws of physics.
Related debates on the forum
If gravity pulls us toward the center of the Earth, how can a human body float in water without sinking? The answer, known for more than 2,000 years, still causes confusion among those who mistake force for density. In fact, even in the 21st century, some people see floating as evidence against the existence of gravity.
Archimedes' principle: older than the internet
A body submerged in a fluid experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. This is basic physics, not magic. Gravity acts on both the body and the fluid, but if the body is less dense, the net force is upward. Lungs full of air reduce the body's average density, allowing it to float. The same happens with a steel ship: its shape displaces enough water for the buoyant force to offset its weight.
The density-as-the-only-force argument
One school of thought holds that density is solely responsible and that gravity is an invention. They point out that a helium balloon rises and that oil floats on water. However, they forget that the pressure gradient that produces buoyancy itself originates from gravity. Without gravity, there would be no hydrostatic pressure and no floating. It is gravity that pulls the water downward, creating the pressure difference that pushes less dense objects upward.
From Archimedes to the Navier-Stokes equations
The debate doesn't stop at anecdotes: some have even invoked the Navier-Stokes equations, which include the gravitational term. But for the conspiracy-minded, even mathematics is suspect. The confusion persists because it is easier to believe in a magical force than in the curvature of spacetime, even though Archimedes' principle already explained it all in the bathtub.
The next time you float in a swimming pool, remember: you are not defeating gravity, you are proving that you know how to swim within the laws of physics.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (41 replies).
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