Why does an object float or sink when placed on the surface of water?
When an object is placed on the surface of the water it displaces a certain volume of water. If the density of the object is less than that of water the buoyant force due to this displacement of water is equal to the weight of the object and it floats on the surface of the water. If the density of the object is more than the density of water, the volume of water displaced would be equal to the volume of the object itself and the buoyant force acting upwards due to this displacement of water would be less than the weight of the object and the object would sink.