TED-Ed: Are ghost ships real? - Peter B. Campbell

The video explores the phenomenon of ghost ships, using historical examples like the Rumney, Frigorifique, Mary Celeste, and A. Ernest Mills. It explains how physics, particularly buoyancy and fluid dynamics, debunk myths of ghostly ships. The video also discusses how ocean currents contribute to the legends of ghost ships being sighted far from their original locations. These scientific principles help explain the mysteries surrounding these unmanned vessels.

What was the main reason the 'Frigorifique' appeared to take revenge on the 'Rumney'?

• The French crew intentionally set it on a collision course.

• The engines were left running, causing it to sail in a circle.

• A ghostly presence was steering the ship.

• The 'Rumney' crew sabotaged the 'Frigorifique'.

Which scientific principle explains why objects less dense than water float?

• Newton's Third Law

• Archimedes's Principle

• Pascal's Law

• Bernoulli's Principle

Why did the 'Mary Celeste' not sink despite being abandoned?

• The crew returned and saved it.

• The cargo was too light to cause sinking.

• The water reached equilibrium with the hull.

• It was towed to safety by another ship.

What caused the 'A. Ernest Mills' to resurface after sinking?

• The salt cargo dissolved, reducing weight.

• The crew pumped out the water.

• A passing ship lifted it.

• The ship was never actually submerged.

What natural phenomenon explains the sightings of ghost ships far from their original locations?

• Tidal waves

• Ocean currents

• Magnetic fields

• Underwater volcanoes