floating

Everyday

1. Floating means staying on top of water or another liquid without sinking. tree →
2. Floating also means drifting slowly in the air, like a balloon or a feather. tree →
3. Floating can mean moving around without a fixed place, like a floating teacher. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on floating and sinking, objects float when they are less dense than water or have air inside, like a boat; heavy and solid things like stones sink. Salty sea water helps things float better than fresh water. In water safety, if you fall in, float on your back to rest and breathe; this is called «float to live». Phrases: floating and sinking, floating on your back, float away.

Examples

• The duck is floating on the pond. tree →
• We tested which objects were floating and which sank. tree →
• A balloon was floating up into the sky. tree →
• If you fall in the water, try floating on your back. tree →
• Clouds were floating across the sky. tree →
• The ice cube kept floating in my drink. tree →
• An apple floats but a stone sinks. tree →
• Leaves were floating down the stream. tree →
• A strong chain kept it from floating away. tree →

Note

Float is regular: floated, floating. In science, «floats» and «sinks» are a pair; a ship of steel floats because its shape holds lots of air. Inflatable toys can float away in the wind at the beach; don't swim after them.