Returning to the discrepant event in the aquarium that
initiated this activity, students are led to compare the displaced
volumes of the two regular soda cans to explain why
one floats. For each can the density of the water and the
gravitational field strength are the same; thus, the floating can
must displace more water to have a larger buoyant force. The
floating soda can displaced more water due to the pocket of
air on its top.