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Written by Mumtaj Khan
Feb 23, 2026

How Submarine Works: A Simple and Fascinating Explanation

What makes a huge sub slip beneath the waves, then float up again so smoothly? Seems unreal - a ton of steel gliding below, quiet as a shadow. Truth is, it’s not sorcery at all. Hidden inside are smart ideas from physics that make it happen.

A deep dive into submarines begins now. How they move underwater unfolds piece by piece. This explanation strips away confusion. A look at their inner workings appears step by step. Understanding comes without complexity. Each part reveals itself plainly. No jargon stands in the way. Mechanics become clear through simple ideas. The process feels within reach. Clarity arrives slowly, then all at once.

Youtube Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVytJXCP5n8

The Basic Principle of Sinking and Floating

Built into how things float, submarines follow an old idea about water pushing up. A thinker from Greece long ago - Archimedes - was the first to lay it out clearly.

Water decides whether something stays up or goes down based on weight compared to what it pushes aside. If the item weighs less, it stays afloat instead of dropping below.

Here's the puzzle: what lets a massive sub decide if it stays up or goes down?

The answer lies in something called ballast tanks.

Ballast Tanks Explained?

Down in a sub, rooms known as ballast tanks hold air or flood with sea. Their job shifts weight by swapping what fills them.

This is what happens next

  • To Dive:
  • Water flows into the tanks built inside the vessel. That added weight pulls the craft downward. Once it outweighs the surrounding liquid, descent begins.
  • To Rise:
  • With a rush of pressurized air, the sub fills its ballast tanks. Water gets pushed out by that force. As weight drops with the exiting water, upward motion begins. The craft then floats toward daylight.

Water lets you float just enough to move yourself down below.

Submarine Movement Explained Simply?

Floating isn't their only trick - sliding ahead or retreating slips into play too.

A few deep-water boats today rely on strong motors turning screw blades. Boats serving the U.S. military usually run on atomic energy instead. Since they do not burn fuel needing air, these undersea vessels remain hidden below for weeks at a stretch.

Floating closer to daylight keeps some subs powered, their electric systems humming after a gulp of air. Bubbles rise as machinery breathes again, tied to the rhythm of shallow dives.

A twist in the blades shoves liquid behind, nudging the vessel ahead - much like how a surface craft rides the push.

Submarine Steering Explained?

Fins on submarines steer their path, while rudders adjust course under water. Direction shifts happen through these built-in controls beneath the surface.

  • Left or right movement comes from the rudder. It steers the sub when adjusted. Direction shifts happen because of its position. Turning relies on how it angles through water.
  • When it moves, fins at the front adjust its angle in water. These small wings shift so the vessel points higher or lower during travel.

With tweaks to these settings, the sub glides through water without a hitch.

People breathing inside?

You could be thinking - what keeps folks going in a sub for weeks, maybe even months at a time?

Submarines have systems that:

  • Produce oxygen from seawater
  • Remove carbon dioxide from the air
  • Filter and recycle air

Fresh air cycles through, protecting those on board.

Seeing Under Water From Inside A Submarine?

Since it’s dark underwater, submarines use:

  • Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) to detect objects using sound waves
  • Periscopes (when near the surface) to see above water

Out into the water go pulses of sound, zipping until they hit something solid. Bouncing back, these echoes give clues about what lies beneath. A ship might show up first, then a ridge of rock, maybe even another hidden vessel slipping through deep zones. Listening closely tells where things are hiding below.

Conclusion

Water fills the tanks when going down. That’s how submarines dive, thanks to careful balance between weight and lift. Air pushes the water out to rise again. Power moves them forward, while clever engineering handles deep-sea pressure. Their motion depends on shifting that internal mix of liquid and gas.

Beginning under the sea and moving toward defense roles, subs stand among humanity's most remarkable creations. Their reach stretches far below the surface while serving critical duties across continents.

Watch a sub on screen again, then suddenly it sinks below the surface - now you understand just what makes that happen.

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