if The Old Man taught displacement
A toy boat floats in a fish-tank. Heavy with coins, it barely floats. It floats by pushing aside water, an amount equal to its weight.
A great weight pushes a lot of water, which pushes the tank depth higher. Another penny will tip the boat over and coins flutter to the coral below. Pushing aside water to make room. Pushing water coin-size in volume.
But the depth won’t rise, surprise! The water level lowers by measure. Metal displaces more water by weight than the size of the coins combined.
Playful pastiche for Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea.
