Final answer:
When dropped in water, a metal pin sinks while a piece of wood floats due to differences in density. Objects that are denser than water sink, while less dense objects float.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you drop a piece of metal pin and a piece of wood into water, the metal pin will sink while the wood will float. This is because density plays a role in determining whether an object will sink or float in water. Objects that are less dense than water, like wood, will float, while objects that are denser than water, like metal, will sink.
For example, if you take a lump of clay and drop it in water, it will sink. But if you mold the clay into the shape of a boat, it will float. This is because the boat-shaped clay displaces more water than the lump of clay and experiences a greater buoyant force.
In the case of a metal pin and a piece of wood, the metal pin is denser than water, so it sinks. The wood, on the other hand, has a lower density than water, so it floats.