Understanding the Impact of Ships on Ocean Levels
Written on
Chapter 1: Do Ships Raise Ocean Levels?
Have you ever wondered if ships actually raise the ocean levels? Imagine explaining it to a young child.
According to research by Randell from XKCD, ships displace approximately 2.1 billion cubic meters of water. While that sounds immense, when you distribute this displacement across the entire globe, it equates to merely about 6 microns, which is comparable to the thickness of a strand of spider silk.
This makes perfect sense! The primary value of ships lies in the cargo they transport, not in their own structure. Consequently, when ships are empty, it's preferable that they displace as little water as possible. Consider the massive cargo ships, some comparable in size to the Empire State Building, that traverse oceans. They are designed to be as lightweight as feasible so they can be filled with goods like fish or other products.
To put it into perspective, there are countless ships around the globe. For instance, the Ever Given, which famously blocked the Suez Canal, is about the same size as the Empire State Building, yet it isn’t even the largest vessel navigating the seas. The ocean is so vast that the total displacement from all ships combined merely amounts to the width of a spider silk thread when spread worldwide.
Thanks for reading! Please take a moment to clap and share your thoughts in the comments! 😊
Section 1.1: The Science Behind Displacement
Displacement refers to the amount of water that is moved aside when an object, like a ship, is placed in it. This concept is crucial to understanding buoyancy—the reason ships float.
Subsection 1.1.1: What's Underneath a Ship?
To delve deeper into what lies beneath ships, check out this informative video that explains the underwater components and how they function.
Section 1.2: How Do Ships Stay Afloat?
Another fascinating aspect of ships is how they maintain buoyancy. This video breaks down the principles of buoyancy and how ships are designed to float.