BUOYANCY; PRINCIPLE OF ARCHIMEDES

L.S. (,

N
m3

Body of volume, V

Fb
Principle of Archimedes: a body submerged in a liquid of specific weight is buoyed
up by a force equal to the weight of the displaced liquid,

Fb V

where: V = volume of the submerged body or volume displaced liquid

= specific weight of the liquid
Note: F b is called the buoyant force and its direction is vertically upward.

Actual Weight of a Body ( Weight in Air )

W VB b VB sB w

where:

VB
B
sB
w

volume of the body

specific weight of the body
specific gravity of the body
specific weight of water

Apparent Weight of a Body (Weight in Liquid)

W = W - Fb

Flotation; Stability of Floating Bodies

W
G
O

Bo

Fb
(a) The body is in Upright Position

W Fb V
G = Center of gravity of the body
Bo = Center of buoyancy ( centroid of the submerged
portion )

( b) The body is in Tilted

Position

M (Metacenter)

x
B
A

A
B

B1 B o

Fb

B1 = new center of Buoyancy

r = horizontal shifting of Bo
x = moment arm of W or Fb

= angle of tilt

(b) Tilted Position

M (Metacenter)

W
x
B
A

B1

The Righting or Overturning

Couple, C

_____

C W x W MG sin

A
B

Bo

NOTE: C is a righting moment if M falls above G, an overturning moment if M falls

below G. MG is known as the metacentric height.

M (Metacenter)

Fb
A
B

G O

B
A

B1

Fb

Bo

Fb

r
S

The shifting of the original upward buoyant force Fb in the wedge AOB to
Fb in the wedge AOB causes a shift in Fb from Bo to B1, a horizontal distance r
Hence,

Fb r Fb S V r S

r S
V

Also,

_____

Note:

r MBo sin

_____

S
Then,
V
_____
S
MBo
V sin
For small angle ,
_____

MBo sin

_____

MBo

where:

S
V

r MBo sin

and F b

Where is the additional volume AOB.

S is the distance between the centroids of AOB
and AOB.

(approximately )

= volume of the wedge AOB

V = volume of the submerged body
S = horizontal distance between the centroid
of AOB and AOB
= angle of tilt

______

Metacentric Height, MG
_____

_____

_____

MG MB o GB o

+ if Bo is above G
- if Bo is below G

_____

NOTE: GB o is usually a known value

_____

If is negligible,

MBo is given as

_____

Io
MBo
V
Where: Io is the moment of inertia of the waterline section relative
to a line through O.

_____

Io
Derivation of MB o
V

M (Metacenter)
W

Consider now a small prism of the wedge AOB,

dA
at a distance x from O, having a horizontal area dA.
For small angles the length of this prism = x
x
(approximately). The buoyant force produced
G O
B
By this immersed prism is x dA , and
A
2
The moment of this force about O is x dA .
Bo
B1
The sum of all these moments for both wedges

Fb
Must be equal to S or

x 2 dA S Vr

Fb
A
B

Fb

_____

But for small angles r MBo ( approximat ely )

Hence
_____

x dA V MBo

r
S

But x 2 dA is the moment of inertia,I o , of the water-line section about the longitudinal axis through O (approximately constant for small angles of heel). Therefore
_____

MB o

Io
,
V

The metacentric height

_____

_____

_____

MG MB o GB o

VESSEL WITH RECTANGULAR SECTION

(B/2) (cos)
M (Metacenter)

Fb

G
O

B
A

(B/2)(sec)
B
A
B

B/2
__

B1

Fb

Bo

Recall:
_____

S
x
2

MBo
where:

S
V sin

V BDL
1 B B

v tan L
2 2 2

1
v B 2 L tan
8

Considering triangle AOB

Multiplying both sides by 2 we obtain,

(B/2) (cos)
(B/2)(sec)
B
A

B/2
__

S
2

From geometry, the centroid of the triangle is

defined by the coordinates of the vertices:

x1 x2 x3
3
B
B
0 cos sec
s
2
2

2
3

__

B
cos sec
3
B
1
s cos

3
cos

B cos 2 1

s
3 cos
Then from the formula,
_____

MBo

S
V sin

2
1 2
B cos 1

B L tan

_____
8
3 cos
MBo
BDLsin

2
1 2
B cos 1

B L tan

_____
8
3 cos
MBo
BDLsin

B 2 cos2 1
MBo

24 D cos2
_____

B2
1
MBo
1

24D cos 2

B2
MBo
1 sec2
24 D
_____

B2
MBo
2 tan 2
122 D
_____

B 2 tan 2
1

MBo
12 D
2
_____

_____

B2
MBo
2 tan 2
24 D
_____

B 3 L sin cos2 1

_____
cos
MBo 24 cos
BDLsin

B2
MBo
1 tan 2 1
24 D
_____

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

Position of weight on the mast

G (center of gravity)

_____

_____

MB GB
__

Y1

Y h

__

_____

MB

h
2
h
2

Sketch showing various distances on the pontoon

DETERMINATION OF THEORETICAL METACENTRIC HEIGHT FROM THE GEOMETRY OF

THE PONTOON:

Lb 3 400mm 200mm
0.40m 0.20m
4 4

2
.
67
x
10
m
Io

12
12
12
3

Displaced Volume

9 .81 N
kg
W

V
g 1,000 kg 9 .81 m
m3
s2
2 .52 kg

2 .52 x10 3 m 3

_____

MB

2 . 67 x 10

2 . 52 x 10

m4
0 . 1059 m 106 mm
3
3
m

Depth of displaced water

V 2.52 x10 3 m 4
0 . 0315 m
h
Lb 0.4m 0.20m

_____

The center of buoyancy force below the water surface and the distance OB will be
_____

OB

h 0 . 0315 m
0 . 01575 m 15 .75 mm

2
2
_____

The Metacenter is above the water surface and distance MO is

_____

_____

____

MO MB OB 106 15 . 75

90 . 25 mm

In the case when the height of the mast, Y1 100 mm and the
__
height of the center of gravity ( by experiment) , Y 69 mm
_____

Thus, the theoretical metacentric height MGth

_____

_____

_____

Position of weight on the mast

M (Metacenter)

_____
_____

MGth MB GB

__ h
MGth MB Y
2

31.5 Y1 __

106 69
Y

37 .02 mm
_____

G (center of gravity)

_____

_____

MB GB
__

Y h

h
2
h
2

Because MG th is positive, this shows that the pontoon is stable.

_____

MB

Determination of Metacentric Height by Experiment

M

d
O

B1

Fb

Fb W

_____

The metacentric height

is determined experimentally as shown in the figure
above. When shifting the jockey weight w to the left side of the pontoon at a distance
x, the pontoon tilts to a small angle causing the metacentric height to rotate slightly
around the longitudinal axis of the pontoon . Likewise, the buoyancy force F b shifted a
horizontal distance d from G. Hence, the moment produced by w must be equal to
_____
moment of Fb ,
wx
MG

w cos x d W

_____

MG sin W

MG

W tan

w
x

(For small angle of tilt)

METACENTRIC HEIGHT APPARATUS

Vertical scale

Mast

Vertical sliding
weight
Jockey weight
Balancing weight

Pontoon

Tilt angle
scale
Plumb bob

_____

DETERMINATION OF METACENTRIC HEIGHT, MG BY EXPERIMENT

Typical Data:

In the case of vertical sliding weight on the mast is at the height, Y1 100 mm .
Distance of jockey weight w from center of pontoon , x = 80 mm
Angle of tilt, = 6.80
Convert angle of tilt into radian
6 .80

6 .80 0.11868radian
180

Then,
From equation (2), the experimental metacentric height is,
x
80 mm
674 . 06 mm

0 . 11868 radian
_____

MG
_____

exp

0 . 20 kg
w x

674 . 06 mm 53 . 49 mm

2 . 52 kg
W

MG exp is positve, this shows that the pontoon at that tilt angle is stable.

TEST PROCEDURES:
Data recording:
- Pontoon weight,
- Jockey weight,
- Adjustable vertical weight
- Pontoon width,
- Pontoon length,

W = 2.50 kg
w = 0.20 kg
= 0.40 kg
D = 200 mm
L = 400 mm

Determining the Center of Gravity of the Pontoon

Center of gravity ( CG)

Scale

Adjustable vertical
weight
Mast

Support

Procedures:
1. Tilt the pontoon as shown in figure.
2. Attach the plum bob on the angle scale.
3. Move or adjust the vertical weight to a
required distance and record that distance
from the scale on the mast.
4. Place knife edge support under the mast and
move it to a position of equilibrium and record
the height ( center of gravity) where the knife
edge is position on the scale.

Taking Readings with the Pontoon in a Water Tank

1. Initial Set Up
When placing the pontoon in the water ensure that the position of
the jockey weight horizontal adjustments is in the middle of the
pontoon and the pontoon is sitting level in the water. The pontoon
should be in a vertical position and have no angle of tilt ( zero
degrees in the tilt angle scale). If not, adjust the balancing weight
until the angle of tilt is 0.

2. The jockey weight can change the position of the pontoon in the
water and in order to take some experimental readings we move
the jockey weight in steps from its central position horizontally and
record the tilt angle of the pontoon from the scale on the pontoon
in degrees.

3. Each time we move the jockey weight from its central position we
must record on the data sheets supplied the distance measured from
its central position and the angle of tilt.
4. We also change the adjustable vertical weight height on the mast
and record its measurement along with the jockey weight distance
from its central position, the angle of tilt at different values and
record all the data on the sheets provided.
5. Step (3) and (4) can be repeated many times to obtain a satisfactory
conclusion.

SAMPLE DATA SHEET

METACENTRIC HEIGHT APPARATUS
Position of jockey weight in a horizontal position (cm.)
2

10

12

14

16

18

Distance x of the jockey weight measured from the center of the pontoon (mm)
80

Height of
weight
on the
Tilt Angle
mast,

____mm. (degrees)

x/

Height of (mm/rad.)
center of Metacentr
gravity, ic Height
(mm)
____mm.

60

40

20

20

40

60

80

Example 1. An iceberg weighing 8.95 kN/m3 floats in sea water,

= 10.045 kN/m3, with a volume of 595 m3 above the surface. What is
The total volume of the iceberg?
Solution:

kN
kN

V s 10 . 045 3 V 8 . 95 3
m
m

but

W.S.

V s V 595 m 3

kN

V 595m 10.045 kN
xV
8.95
m
m
3

1 . 095 V

Let Vs = volume submerged Fb

V = total volume
(a) Fv = 0,
Fb = W
Vsx w = V x i
where: w = specific weight of sea water
i = specific weight of iceberg

kN
5 , 976 . 775 kN
3
m

V 5 , 458 . 242 m 3

Example 2. A sphere 0.90 m in diameter floats half submerged in a tank

of oil ( s=0.80). (a) What is the total vertical pressure on the sphere?
(b) What is the minimum weight of an anchor weighing 24 kN/m3 that
will be required to submerge the sphere completely?
Solution:
O.S.

W
0.45 m

O.S.

0.45 m

Fb

Fb

(a) Consider Figure (a)

Fv 0 ,
Fv W 0
Fv W V

Wa

Figure (a)

Figure (b)

Fba

2
W 0 . 45 m
3

3 0 . 80

W 1 . 498 kN

x 9 . 81

kN
3
m

O.S.

W
V a 0 . 093 m 3

0.45 m

therefore
Fb
Wa

W a Va a

Figure (b)

Fba

kN

W a 0 .093 m 3 24 3
m

W a 2 .232 kN

(b) Consider Figure (b),

Fv 0,
Fb Fba W W a 0,

V Va 1.498 kN Va a 0
kN
kN
kN
4

3
0 . 45 m 0 . 80 x 9 . 81 3 V a 0 . 80 x 9 . 81 3 1 . 498 kN V a 24 3 0
m
m
m
3

kN
16 . 152
V a 1 . 498 kN
3
m

Example 3. A cylinder weighing 500 N and having a diameter of 0.90 m

floats in salt water ( s=1.03) with its axis vertical as shown in the figure.
The anchor consists of 0.30 m3 of concrete weighing 24 kN/m3. What
rise in tide r, will be required to lift the anchor off the bottom?
W

Solution:
new W.S.

r
Fb
Wa

Fba

0.30 m

Fv 0,
Fb Fba W Wa 0

V Va 500N Va a 0

W
new W.S.

r
Fb

0.30 m

Wa

Fba
V Va 500 N Va a 0

0 .90 m 2 0 .30 m r 1 .03 x 9810 N3 0 .3m 3 1 .03 x 9810 N3

4
m
m

500 N 0 .3m 3 24 ,000 3 0

m

r 0 .426 m

Example 4. Timber AC hinged at A having a length of 10 ft., cross sectional area of

3 in.2 and weighing 3 lbs. Block attached to the end C having a volume of 1 ft.3, and
weighing 67 lbs.
Required: Angle for equilibrium.
(2) Buoyant force on the block,
csc
A
1

FbB V w 162.4 62.4lb

10 csc

10
WT

5cos

bT
1

10 10 csc cos
2

10 csc

cos
2

10cos
Solution:
(1) Buoyant force on the timber,

C
WB=67 lbs

FbB

3
FbT V w
10 csc 62.4
144
FbT 1.310 csc

csc
A
1

csc2 6.15

10 csc

WT

5cos

FbT

10 10 csc cos
2

10 csc

cos
2

csc 2.48
sin 0.40

C
WB=67 lbs

23.8

FbB

10cos

(3) MA = 0,

10 csc
WT 5 cos WB 10 cos FbT
cos FbB 10 cos 0
2

10 csc
35 6710 1.310 csc
62.410 0
2

15 670 0.65100 csc2 624 0

Example 5. A vessel going from salt into fresh water sinks two inches, then after
burning 112,500 lb of coal, rises one inch. What is the original weight of the vessel?
W

W 112,500 lb

d + 2/12

d + 1/12

Fb
(a) Salt water ( = 64 lb/ft3)

Fb

Fb

(b) Fresh water ( = 62.4 lb/ft3)

(c ) Fresh water after

losing 112,500 lb

Solution:
1. In figure (a), submerged volume is, Va = Axd ft3
where: A = cross-sectional area of the vessel ( ft2 )
2. In figure (b), submerged volume is Vb = Va + (2/12)(A)
3. In figure (c), submerged volume is Vc = Va + (1/12)(A)

W 112,500 lb
d + 2/12

d + 1/12

Fb
(a) Salt water ( = 64 lb/ft3)

Fb

Fb

(b) Fresh water ( = 62.4 lb/ft3)

(c ) Fresh water after

losing 112,500 lb

4. In salt water, W = Fb
W = Va ( 64 )

( 1)

5. In fresh water, W = Fb
W = [Va + (2/12)(A)](62.4)

(2)

6. In fresh water after losing 112,500 lb,

W 112,500 = [Va +(1/12)(A)](62.4)

(3)

W 1
W

A 62 .4 0.975W 10 .4 A

7. Substitute eq. 1 to eq. 2 and eq. 3,

64 6
(4)
0.025W 10 .4 A

1
W
W 112 ,500

A 62 .4 0 .975W 5 .2 A
64 12
0 .025W 5 .2 A 112 ,500

8. Solve eqs. (4) and (5) simultaneously, we obtain

W 9 x10 6 lb

(5)

Example 6. A ship of 4,000 tons displacement floats in sea water with

its axis of symmetry vertical when a weight of 50 tons is midship.
Moving the weight 10 feet towards one side of the deck causes a plumb
bob, suspended at the end of a string 12 feet long, to move 9 inches.
Find the metacentric height.
Solution:

12

9
1. Solve the angle of tilt, Arctan 12
12

3.58

2. Righting Moment = W (MG x sin)

50 x10 4050MGx sin 3.58

MG 1 . 977 ft

Example 7. A ship with a horizontal sectional area at the waterline of 76,000 ft2 has a
draft of 40.5 ft. in sea water (s =64 lb/ft3). In fresh water it drops 41.4 ft. Find the
weight of the ship. With an available depth of 41 ft. in a river above the sills of a lock,
how many long tons of the cargo must the ship be relieved off so that it will pass the
sills with a clearance of 0.60 ft.?
Solution:
W
sea W.S

W
fresh W.S

V1

original fresh W.S

1 ft
V
0.90 ft

40.5 ft

41.4 ft

41 ft

41.4 ft

sills

Fbs
(a) SEA WATER

Fb f
(b) FRESH WATER

Fb' f

0.60 ft

(c) SHIP IN THE LOCK

W original weight of the ship (including cargo)

W new weight of the ship when part of the cargo has been disposed
Fbs - buoyant force in sea water, Fb f - buoyant force in fresh water

sea W.S

fresh W.S

original fresh W.S

V2
1 ft

V1

0.90 ft
40.5 ft

41 ft

41.4 ft

41.4 ft

sills

Fbs
Fb ' f W '

(a) SEA WATER

Fb f

Fb' f

0.60 ft

(b) FRESH WATER

(c) SHIP IN THE LOCK

V1 = additional submerged volume = 0.90(76,000) = 68,400 ft3

V2 = volume of the ship at the waterline which rose up when it was relieved off the cargo
= 1 (76,000) = 76,000 ft3
V = original volume submerged ( in sea water )
(1) Using position (a);
(2) Using position (b)

Fbs W

Fb f W

V s W

V V1 f W
V 68,400 62 .4 W

V 64 W

(1)

(2)

(3) Solve equations (1) and (2) simultaneously,

64V 62 .4V 68,400

and

V 2,667 ,600 ft 3

The ships displacement in sea water

V V1 2,736,000 ft 3

The ships displacement in fresh water

Therefore,
or

W 64V 1 .70726 x10 lb

8

W 62 .4V V1 1 .70726 x10

lb

(4) Using position (c);

41 ft

W ' Fb ' f V V1 V2 62 .4
2,736 ,000 76 ,000 62 .4

original fresh W.S

1 ft

sills

1 .65984 x10 lb

(5) Weight of disposed cargo = W W

Fb' f
(c) SHIP IN THE LOCK

W W ' 0 . 04742 x10 8 lb

1 LT
2 , 200 lb

41.4 ft

0.60 ft

4 , 742 , 000 lb
4 , 742 , 000 lbx

V2

2,155.5 LONG TONS

Example 8.

W.S

W
G

Bo

4
15

Fb

Given: Rectangular scow 50 x 30 x 12

as shown with the given draft and center
of gravity.

Required: Righting or overturning moment

when one side, as shown, is at the point
of submergence

15

Solution:
A
W.S

C W MG sin

M
G
O
Bo

where: W V

W 50 30 8 62 . 4

W 748 ,800 lb

4
Arc tan 14 .93
15

MG MBo GBo
MG MBo 5

MBo

vS
V sin

1
15450 2 30
2
3

MBo
50308sin14.93

A
W.S

G
O

Bo

MG 9.7 ft 5 ft 4.7 ft
Then,

C 748 ,800 ( 4 . 7 sin 14 . 93 )

C 906 , 600 ft lb

= 14.93

A
A

MBo 9.7 ft
Therefore,

2
30'
3

30

Example 9. A rectangular scow 10 m wide, 16 m long, and 4.0 m high has a draft in
sea water (s = 1.03) of 2.5 m. Its center of gravity is 2.80 m above the bottom of the
scow. Determine the following:
(a) The initial metacentric height,
(b) The righting or overturning moment when the scow tilts until one side is just at
the point of submergence.
Solution:
S.W.

2.5 m

MBo 3.333m
G
Bo

4.0 m
2.8 m
1.25 m

GBo 1.55m

The initial metacentric height , MG

10 m

MG MBo GBo

(a) Initial Metacentric Height

B 2 tan2
1

MBo
12D
2

GBo 2.80m 1.25m

where = 0

102 tan2 0
1

MBo
122.5
2

MG 3.333 1.55

MG 1.783m

(b)
M

The metacentric height MG

MG MBo GBo

G
O

2.8 m
Bo
5.0 m

1.25 m

1.5 m

2.5 m

MG 3.483 1.55
4.0 m

MG 1.933m

5.0 m

tan

1.5
5

16.699

B 2 tan2
1

MBo
12D
2
2
102 1.5 5
1

MBo

122.5
2
MBo 3.483m

Since MG > MBo, the moment is righting moment. The

Righting moment is,

RM W MG sin
where: W Fb V

W 1.03x9.8110x16x2.5
W 4,041.72kN

RM 4,041.721.933sin16.699
RM 2,244.92kN m