ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Archimedes' principle

Okay kiddo, have you ever been floating in a pool and noticed that when you move your arms and legs, you move up and down in the water? That's because of Archimedes' Principle!

Archimedes was a really smart guy from a long time ago who figured out that when an object is placed in water, it will push some of the water out of the way. He also discovered that the amount of water that gets moved is the same as the weight of the object.

So let's say you have a toy boat. If you put it in the water, some of the water will be pushed aside to make room for the boat. That water will then push back on the boat, creating a force that makes it float.

This is because the boat weighs less than the water it displaced. This is why things float in water - if the weight of the object is greater than the amount of water it pushed aside, it would sink instead.

Archimedes' Principle is really important for things like making boats and submarines that need to float or dive underwater. It also helps scientists and engineers understand how objects behave in fluids like water and air.