Chapter 1
The magic of buoyancy
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Chapter 2
Staying upright and steady
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Chapter 3
Powering a floating city
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Chapter 4
Where giant ships are born
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YOUR GOAL
Master of How cruise ships work
Ch 1 · The magic of buoyancy
futura Cruise Ship Buoyancy
A giant ship, though it weighs a ton, Displaces water, so it floats along!
futura Cruise ships use displacement hulls designed to push water aside rather than ride on top of it.
Fun Fact
Archimedes' bathtub moment: The ancient Greek scientist Archimedes discovered buoyancy principles around 250 BCE while taking a bath.
futura A ship's draft is the distance from the waterline to the bottom of the keel, showing how deep it sits.
Glossary
buoyancy (noun)
The ability or tendency of an object to float in water or other fluids. Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes first formulated this principle, which enables modern steel cruise vessels to remain afloat.
The ability or tendency of an object to float in water or other fluids. Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes first formulated this principle, which enables modern steel cruise vessels to remain afloat.
Quiz
What type of hull do cruise ships use to push water aside rather than ride on top of it?
Quiz
What is the term for the vertical distance between a cruise ship's waterline and the very bottom of its hull?
Quiz
What scientific principle explains why a massive steel cruise ship can float on water?
Quiz
What is the main purpose of the bulbous bow, the underwater protrusion at the front of a cruise ship?
Quiz
Why does a cruise ship float slightly higher in the ocean compared to a freshwater lake?
Quiz
Which part of a cruise ship is the lowest structural element, serving as the ship's backbone?
Quiz
In physical engineering, what is 'displacement' when referring to a floating cruise ship?