A steel ship floats even though steel is denser than water because
Pick an answer
Correct!
Not quite. The correct answer is highlighted.
Correct answer to question 179 (Mechanical Comprehension): its hollow shape displaces enough water to equal the ship's total weight
Method
The ship's hollow hull displaces a large volume of water; as long as the displaced water's weight equals the ship's weight, it floats even though the steel itself sinks.
Updated: November 2026
Raise your AFQT scoreFree for iPhone and Android
