A solid aluminum cube and an identical–sized cube made of pine wood are each placed in a large tank of freshwater. The aluminum cube immediately sinks to the bottom, while the pine cube floats with a portion above the waterline.
(a) Without performing calculations, explain why the two cubes behave differently upon release.
(b) Describe how the fraction of each cube’s volume that displaces water differs between the two cases and justify your answer.
(c) Suppose the tank is now filled with a denser liquid so that both cubes float. Predict qualitatively how the fraction of submerged volume for each cube changes compared with freshwater, and provide a physical explanation.