Apples Float Because They Are 25 Percent Air

The reason apples float is surprisingly simple physics. About 25 percent of an apple's volume consists of air pockets trapped between its cells, making the overall fruit less dense than water. This is why apples bob to the surface no matter how hard you try to submerge them. The air content varies slightly between apple varieties, but virtually all apples will float. This property is shared by many other fruits including bananas, lemons, oranges, and pears. Interestingly, the same air pockets that cause apples to float are also responsible for the gas that apples can cause in the human digestive system. The next time you see an apple bobbing in a barrel at a fall festival, remember it is basically one quarter empty space.