Final answer:
To prove that objects with less density than a liquid will float, a classic example is oil and water: oil floats because it is less dense. This concept is described by the relationship between density and Archimedes' principle, which explains buoyant forces and how they make objects buoyant or sink based on their density relative to the fluid.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proving Density's Effect on Buoyancy
When it comes to objects interacting with liquids, it is essential to understand why objects float or sink. This is fundamentally governed by the relationship between density and Archimedes' principle. If an object has less density than the liquid it is placed in, it will experience a greater buoyant force than the gravitational force pulling it downwards, and as a result, it will float.
An everyday example to prove this phenomenon is oil on water. Since oil is less dense than water, it floats. Conversely, metals, having a higher density than water, will sink. According to LibreTexts™, substances with a relative density of less than one are less dense than water and will float, those with a density greater than one will sink, and if relative density is exactly one, the object will remain suspended in the liquid.
Another interesting example is how the same material can float or sink depending on its shape, such as clay molded into a boat shape will float due to the displacement of a larger volume of water, as opposed to a lump of clay which will sink. This underlines the significance of density and Archimedes' principle in understanding buoyancy.