Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Archimedes' principle, an object will float or sink in a fluid based on the relative densities of the object and the fluid. If the density of the object is greater than the density of the fluid, it will sink, and if the density of the object is less than the density of the fluid, it will float.
In this case, the density of liquid mercury (13.53g/cm³) is greater than the density of solid copper (8.96g/cm³). Therefore, we can conclude that a piece of copper will float when placed in a container of liquid mercury because its density is less than the density of mercury.
To visualize this, imagine placing a piece of copper into a container of liquid mercury. The copper will displace an amount of mercury that weighs equal to its own weight, as per Archimedes' principle. Since copper is less dense than mercury, the volume of mercury displaced by the copper will be greater than the volume of the copper itself. Therefore, the copper will float on top of the mercury surface.
So, in summary, the copper piece would float when placed in a container of liquid mercury due to its lower density compared to the mercury.