Which Glass Contains the Most Water? This Simple Puzzle Is Trickier Than It Looks

At first glance, this puzzle seems incredibly easy.

You look at several different glasses, each containing water and a different object, and your task is simple:

Which glass actually contains the most water?

Most people immediately choose the glass that appears to have the highest water level. But that’s where the trick begins.

Don’t Just Look at the Water Level

The key to solving this puzzle isn’t simply comparing how high the water reaches.

You also need to consider what is inside each glass.

When an object is placed into water, it takes up space. The more space the object occupies, the less actual water can fit inside the glass.

This is an example of a basic principle of physics known as displacement.

What Happens When an Object Enters Water?

When you place an object into a glass of water, the object pushes some of the water out of the space it occupies.

Imagine two identical glasses filled to the same level.

One contains a small object, while the other contains a much larger object.

The larger object takes up more room inside the glass. As a result, the amount of water remaining in that glass is smaller.