Birds such as ducks, geese, and swans have greater densities than water, yet they are able to sit on its surface. Explain this ability, noting that water does not wet their feathers and that they cannot sit on soapy water.
Waterbirds are birds whose habitats are near bodies of water such as lakes, ponds or rivers. Examples of water birds are ducks, geese, and swans (order Anseriformes) have developed an adaptation that allows them to float on bodies of water by exploiting surface tension and buoyancy.
Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks. Jennifer Horton, “How do ducks float?” 14 July 2008, com article HowStuffWorks. com. 29 March 2024 .
You can bet that cargo ship wouldn’t be sailing the high seas if it had been carrying bowling balls. Conversely, rubber duckies are a different story. They usually weigh no more than, say, 5 grams and occupy about 75 cubic centimeters of space. The water they remove in 75 cubic centimeters weighs roughly 75 grams (0 16 pounds), so that water significantly outweighs them. Obviously, the heavier seawater will keep them afloat.
True ducks are likewise lighter than the water they replace, but this is only possible when a number of factors come together. Learn why its more complicated than rubber and air next.
The concept is actually simple, but to understand it, you first have to understand why anything floats. Objects either float or sink in water because of something called buoyancy. When an object placed in water weighs less than the amount of water it displaces, it floats. If it weighs more, it sinks.
How these ubiquitous bathtub toys remained afloat for more than 15 years isnt much of a mystery. After all, theyre made of rubber, filled with air and light as a feather: Its no wonder the denser seawater holds them up. But how do their flesh-and-blood brethren accomplish the same task? Real ducks arent made of plastic, and they contain more than just air.
Even though they have higher densities than water, birds like ducks, geese, and swans can still sit on its surface. Describe this ability, pointing out that they cannot sit in soapy water and that water does not wet their feathers.
Birds that live close to bodies of water, like lakes, ponds, or rivers, are known as waterbirds. Using surface tension and buoyancy, water birds such as ducks, geese, and swans (order Anseriformes) have evolved an adaptation that enables them to float on bodies of water.
FAQ
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