I get that some foundations do have sinking issues, but how does having a foundation help? If the foundation is poured and solidifies, what stops the weight of the house from immediately sinking/tilting the foundation?
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Basic principal of a foundation is pressure = load divided by area. The ground itself will have a maximum amount of pressure it can support. If the load of the house is constant, then a foundation pad with a larger area will cause a smaller pressure on the ground.
Foundation design of a slab tries to find the dimensions of the slab that will cause the pressure of the house to be less than the maximum capacity of the ground. If the soil is too weak and a foundation slab is not suitable for the area, then geotechnical designers look into using piles / piers instead.
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