Do Bananas Float In Water? Science Made Easy For Kids

Objects float in water because of buoyancy that largely depends on the density of an immersed object.

Density plays an important role in the floating and sinking of objects. Less-dense objects float, while objects with more density sink in the water.

A bunch of bananas, usually called a hand, is the most common tropical fruit widely eaten around the world. They are rich in vitamin C and potassium, among various other nutrients. They help in digestion by adding fiber to the bulk of the food.

Whenever we eat a banana, we ensure to rinse it thoroughly in water to get rid of any dirt. A question that may pop up in our minds is whether bananas float in water?

And most importantly, why does a banana float in water while fruit like a mango sink? Before quenching all your curiosity, we need to delve deeper into the concepts of buoyancy and the relationship of density with it.

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Density: Meaning With Examples

Density is the ratio of mass to volume of an object. Therefore, we can say that depending on the mass of an object and the volume it covers, that object's density will be determined.

If two objects of the same size are put into water, both of them don't need to sink or float in water. This depends on the density of the two objects.

One with less density than water will float, while the one with more density will sink. Let's understand the concept of density with some examples in the following sections.

The density of oil is about 0.032 oz (0.93 g) per 0.06 cu. in (1 cu. cm), while that of water is approximately 0.035 oz (1 g) per 0.06 cu. in (1 cu. cm). As oil is less dense than water, it floats on the water surface, forming two immiscible liquids.

Ceramic cups have more density than Styrofoam cups. Therefore, Styrofoam cups can easily float on the water surface while ceramics will sink at the bottom.

Water Density: Meaning

Water density means the weight of it per unit volume of water. This density is dependent on the temperature of the water. The value of water density is approximately 0.035 oz (1 g) per 0.06 cu. in (1 cu.

cm). However, this value changes with a temperature change or if any solutes are dissolved in the water. The rate of dissolution of solute increases with an increase in the temperature of the solvent.

Ice cubes are less dense than water. Therefore, they float in a glass of water. Again, saltwater is more dense than freshwater due to the dissolved salt content.

The seawater density at Japanese ports is about 0.036 oz (1.025 g) per 0.06 cu. in (1 cu. cm) and is denser than freshwater of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, which is about 0.035 oz (0.999 g) per 0.06 cu.

in (1 cu. cm). As a result, the vessels in the saltwater rise to a height of about 11.4 in (29 cm).

A Banana Is Lighter Because Of Less Density

Bananas are lighter in their density than water. It is about 0.033 oz (0.95 g) per 0.06 cu. in (1 cu. cm). Because of this, bananas float on the water's surface. Apart from less density, another factor contributes to the floating of bananas and other fruits like apples in the water.

Water exerts an upward force on partially or fully immersed objects. This force is called buoyant force.

To unfold this concept more straightforwardly, we can say that the buoyant force acts similarly to that of the gravitational force of attraction but in the opposite direction. Due to this force, objects with less density than water pop up on the surface of the water.

Bananas being less dense, experience the upward thrust by this buoyant force of water and do not sink. Even if you peel off the skin, bananas will not sink and will pop up to the surface right after being put into water.

We all have observed banana peels floating in the drainage water as well.

The same scenario occurs when ripe bananas or bananas made of wood are put in water since wood has less density than water. Similarly, bananas will float on saltwater because of the heavier density of water due to the dissolved salt solute.

Other fruits like apples and watermelons, which have so many air pockets in them, will float on water. Oranges float in water due to their lower density than water. Like bananas, several other fruits and vegetables with lesser density than water float.

Fruits That Do Not Float

The most asked question about the fruit that will sink right after it is put into water is answered by numerous science experiments. While bananas and apples float, some other fruits and vegetables sink as they have more density than water.

For example, grapes have more density, and therefore, they sink right after they are put into water. Other fruit examples that will sink in water are mangoes, avocados, and vegetables.

Some vegetables float and sink depending on the nature of the water. For instance, potatoes sink in normal water but float in sugar or saltwater. Various science experiments also show that tomatoes, being denser than water, sink to the bottom, unlike apples and oranges.

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