LAB SESSION # 7

Experiment # 6:

Objective:
To determine the metacentric height of a ship model.

Apparatus:
In order to complete the experiment, we need a number of pieces of equipment.
1. Hydraulic bench.
2. Metacentric height apparatus.

Fig # 1 Metacentric apparatus.

 Related theory:
In hydrostatics, the metacenter is an important point to be considered when assessing
the stability of floating bodies. Stability refers to the ability of a ship to right itself from a
heeled position. The metacenter is the intersection of the buoyancy vector and the
vessel’s axis of symmetry at a certain heel. This unit can be used to study the stability of
a floating body and to determine the metacenter graphically. In addition, the buoyancy
of the floating body can also be determined. The experiment is easy to set up and is
particularly suitable for practical work in small groups. The experiment is conducted in a
tank filled with water. A transparent body with a rectangular frame cross-section is used
as the floating body. Clamped weights that can be moved horizontally and vertically
make it possible to adjust the center of gravity and the heel. The position of the clamped
weights can be read on scales. A clinometer indicates the heel. The accessory unit is
available as an optional extra for further experiments with different frame shapes.
Key feature:
 Stability of a floating body.
 Determining the metacenter.

Fig # 2 label diagram of apparatus.

1: adjustment of the center of gravity. 2: scale.

3: floating body. 4: tank with water.
5: adjustment of the heel. 6: clinometer with scale.
Buoyancy:
It is the tendency of fluid to lift a submerged body. All liquids and gases in the presence
of gravity exert an upward force known as the buoyant force on any object immersed in
them. Buoyancy results from the differences in pressure acting on opposite sides of an
object immersed in a static fluid.

Fig # 2 buoyancy phenomena.

Example:
Here are some examples of the buoyant force in day to day life. Boat sailing on the
river, Iceberg floating on water, a person with a life vest floating on water, Ship floating
on the ocean, Helium balloon rising in the air, etc. The buoyant force is proportional to
the density.

Force of buoyancy (FB):

It is the resultant upward force or thrust exerted by a fluid on submerged body.
According to Archimedes Principle, FB = weight of volume of liquid displace by the
body.

Center of gravity:
It is the point where is weight of the body is acting.

Center of buoyancy:
For a floating body with its part submerged in the liquid, the centre of buoyancy is at the
centre of gravity of the submerged part of the body and it lies vertically below the centre
of gravity of the entire body. It is the point to which force of Buoyancy is acting. Center
of Buoyancy is center of gravity of volume of liquid displace by the body. Or in 2D case,
we can say that center if Area if immersed section.
Metacenter:
This point, about which the body starts oscillating, is called metacentre.” “Whenever a
body, floating in a liquid, is given a small angular displacement, it starts oscillating
about some point

Metacentric Height:
The distance “between” the center of gravity of floating body and the metacentre (i.e.
distance between cg and m as shown in) is called metacentric height.

Fig # 3 different model.

1: stable position.
2: stable position despite load, metacentre above the centre of gravity.
3: unstable position due to load, metacentre under the centre of gravity; green arrow:
restoring moment, M metacentre, S centre of gravity, A centre of buoyancy, z
metacentric height, α angle of heel.
Metacentric height of a floating body is a direct measure of its stability.
More the metacentric height of a floating body, more it will stable and vice versa.
Some values of metacentric height:

• Merchant Ships = up to 1.0 m

• Sailing Ships = up to 1.5 m
• Battle Ships = up to 2.0 m
• River Craft = up to 3.5 m

Conditions of Equilibrium of a Floating Body:

A body is said to be in equilibrium, when it remains in steady state. While floating in a
liquid following are the three conditions of equilibrium of a floating body:

1. Stable Equilibrium

2. Unstable Equilibrium

3. Neutral Equilibrium

Stable Equilibrium:
A body is said to be in a stable equilibrium, if it returns back to its original position,
when given a small angular displacement. This happens when metacentre (M) is higher
than centre of gravity (G) of the floating body.

Unstable Equilibrium:
A body is said to be in an unstable equilibrium, if it does not return back to its original
position, when given a small angular displacement. This happens when metacentre (M)
is lower than centre of gravity (G) of the floating body.

Neutral Equilibrium:
A body is said to be in a neutral equilibrium, if it occupies a new position and remains at
rest in this new position, when given a small angular displacement. This happens when
metacentre (M) coincides with centre of gravity (G) of the floating body.

Determination and analysis of the stability of floating bodies, such as ships, rafts,
barges and pontoons, is important throughout many branches of engineering. This
experiment allows students to determine the stability of a barge with its centre of gravity
at various heights. They can then compare this to predictions calculated from theory.

On this item the position of the metacentre can be varied to produce stable and
unstable equilibrium. The equipment consists of a plastic rectangular floating pontoon,
the centre of gravity of which can be varied by an adjustable weight which slides and
can be clamped in any position on a vertical mast.

A single plumb-bob is suspended from the mast which indicates the angle of heel on a
calibrated scale. A weight with lateral adjustment allows the degree of heel to be varied
and hence the stability of the pontoon determined.
Experimental procedure:
1) Set up the equipment on the volumetric tank of the hydraulic bench (some quantity
of water should be present in the volumetric tank of the hydraulic bench).
2) Adjust the position of the horizontally movable mass to the right and record its
distance from the vertical rod.
3) Adjust the position of the vertically movable mass and record its distance from the
horizontal rod.
4) For the current position of the horizontally and vertically movable masses, measure
the angle of tilt.
5) Compute the metacentric height for this position of the movable masses.

6) Repeat steps 2 − 5 for various positions of the movable masses and the water level
in the volumetric tank.
7) Adjust the position of the horizontally movable mass to the left and record its
distance from the vertical rod.
8) Adjust the position of the vertically movable mass and record its distance from the
horizontal rod.
9) For the current position of the horizontally and vertically movable masses, measure
the angle of tilt.
10) Compute the metacentric height for this position of the movable masses.

11) Repeat steps 7 − 11 for various positions of the movable masses and the water
level in the volumetric tank.
Observation and calculation:

Position of horizontal sliding weight = X

Horizontal position of center of gravity = XS

Height of vertical sliding weight = Z

Center of gravity position = Zs

Angle = α

Stability gradient = (dxs /dα) = (XS / α)

Horizontal weight = mh = 194 g

Vertical weight = mv = 576 g

Total weight = 2636 g

Zg = 7.13 cm

Xs = (mh X/m+mv+mh)

Zs = (mv z + (m + mh) zg/ m+mv+m)

Table:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Graph:

40

35

30

25

20
Zs

15

10

0
0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2 0.22 0.24 0.26 0.28

Stability Gradient
 80

70

Horizontal Sliding Hieght 60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2 0.22 0.24 0.26 0.28

Stability Gradient

200

180

160

140
Vertical Sliding Z

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2 0.22 0.24 0.26 0.28

Stability Gradient
Specimen calculation:

Conclusion:
 In this experiment we find the metacentric height of ship model. When the graph
plot between Horizontal position and angle then we can when position is 20cm
then angle is lower than, when position is 50cm, and after this position angle
reduces.
 For vertical position initially angle is low at 173cm it will be highest and after this
angle is decrease. As we increase the force at the corners then it rotate more at
an angle but due to bouncy force effect the Meta centric point is it will regain its
position.
 The application of force of Buoyancy is applied on submarines. Water is filled
in containers and weight becomes greater thank force of buoyancy and
submarine sinks. Now, whenever there is a need to get upwards the containers
get empty and force of buoyancy become greater than weight.
 The metacentric height (GM) is the distance between the center of gravity of a
floating vessel and its metacenter. The GM is used to calculate the stability of a
vessel. The GM must equal or exceed the minimum required GM for that vessel.
This is to ensure that the vessel has adequate stability.