The density of iron is approximately 7.8 g/cm³. The density of water is approximately 1 g/cm³. The density of mercury is approximately 13.6 g/cm³. Since the density of iron (7.8 g/cm³) is greater than the density of water (1 g/cm³), the iron nail sinks in water. Since the density of iron (7.8 g/cm³) is less than the density of mercury (13.6 g/cm³), the iron nail floats on mercury.
Why does an iron nail float on mercury while it sinks in water ?
Asked in UPPCS Prelims 1994 · Topic: Physical Properties of Materials (Density and Specific Gravity)
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Answer: C. Iron has greater denisty then water and lesser then mercury.
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