Final answer:
A person floating in a lake indicates that their density is less than the water's density, due to the buoyant force exerted by the water that is greater than the person's weight. This follows Archimedes' principle and is related to buoyancy in physics.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a person thrown into the lake floats, this indicates that the person's density is less than the density of the water. This is because an object will float if it is less dense than the fluid it is in. In physics, this concept relates to buoyancy which is a force exerted by a fluid that opposes an object's weight. The significance of a person floating is that their body has displaced a volume of water and the weight of this displaced water is equal to the upward buoyant force acting on them. Essentially, if the buoyant force is greater than the weight of the person the person will float.
The principle governing this phenomenon is known as Archimedes' principle. Regarding other scenarios like a group of people trying to stay afloat after their boat has an accident the calculation of how many can cling to a log and keep their heads above water would involve considerations of the density and size of the log, as well as the buoyant force necessary to sustain a person on the surface without them actively swimming or treading water.