The Science Behind Lemons Floating in Salt Water

A lemon generally floats in salt water due to the increased density of the water. Salt water has a higher density than fresh water because of the dissolved salt, which makes it more buoyant. When placed in salt water, the lemon displaces a volume of water equal to its weight before it can sink. This buoyant force keeps the lemon afloat. In contrast, in fresh water, the lemon may sink because the water's lower density provides less buoyant force.