re: #179 doppelganglander

Basically imagine a glass filled with, say, clay. Now imagine a glass of equal size filled with water. If the cylinder of clay weighs more than the water it will sink. However, by changing the shape of the clay such that water taking up the same space as the clay weighs more, the clay structure will float. However, the amount of water displaced is the same.

This can be shown easily by filling your sink with water, getting aluminum foil, and laying it flat on the water. (It will float)
You can then squish the aluminum foil into a ball and place it in the water. (It will sink)

Despite the weight being exactly the same, the amount of space it takes up in the water determines whether it sinks or floats. Because the weight doesn’t change, the amount of water displaced is the same.