Flotation (buoyancy)

Have you ever played in a pool and tried to hold your breath and float on your back? This is called floating or buoyancy.

When you enter a pool, your body starts to push water out of the way so that you can fit inside. This is called displacement.

Now, think of a balloon filled with air. Because there is air inside the balloon, it weighs less than the same size balloon filled with water. This means that the balloon filled with air can float on top of the water.

So, when you hold your breath and float on your back in the pool, the air in your lungs is like the air in the balloon. It makes your body less dense than the water, which means you float on top of the water.

This is also why some toys and objects float in the pool, like a boat or a beach ball. They are made of materials that are less dense than water, which makes them float on top.

In summary, buoyancy or floating is when an object (including your body) pushes water out of the way and becomes less dense than the water so that it floats on top.