* Water (ice) has a density of about 0.92 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).
* Alcohol (like ethanol) has a density of about 0.79 g/cm³.
Since alcohol is less dense than water, the ice cube, which is mostly water, is denser than the alcohol. Objects less dense than the liquid they are in will float.
Here's why this matters:
* Density: Density is a measure of how much mass is packed into a given volume. A denser substance has more mass squeezed into the same space.
* Buoyancy: Buoyancy is the upward force that a fluid exerts on an object submerged in it. The buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.
When an ice cube is placed in alcohol, it displaces a volume of alcohol equal to the volume of the ice cube submerged in the alcohol. Since the ice cube is denser than the alcohol, the weight of the displaced alcohol is less than the weight of the ice cube. This means the buoyant force is less than the weight of the ice cube, causing the ice cube to float.
In simple terms: The ice cube is "heavier" than the same volume of alcohol, so it doesn't sink.
