University Tenaga Nasional

College of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
CEWB121 Fluids Mechanics Laboratory
Laboratory Experiment (8)
(HB 014 METACENTRIC HEIGHT)
Name: Jubair Ahmad Musazay
ID: CE081471
Section: 01
Group Number: 2
Group Members:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Wong Sau Ying CE080785

Vijayeswary A/P Rangasamy CE081491
Man Yin Loh CE081477
Young Jack Hon CE081494
Soh Ru Vern CE081489
Suleiman Zakari Abdulsalam CE080903
Yap Cui Yi CE081492

Date of Laboratory session: 02/ 02/ 2009

Date of Report submission: 10/ 02/ 2009 (Public Holiday)
Laboratory Instructor Name: Ms. Faezah Hanum Binti Mansor
No.
Reports
Allocated
Achieved
(%)
(%)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Performance
Cover Page
Table of content
Objective
Theory
Anticipated results
Apparatus
Procedure
Analysis/Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Critique
References
Appendix

Totals

5
1
4
5
10
10
5
5
20
15
10
5
2
3
Jubair Ahmad Musazay

Table of content

No.

Title/ Subject

Page

1. Cover Page . 1
2. Table of content . 2
3. Objective 3
4. Theory 3
5. Anticipated Results .. 4
6. Apparatus . 4
7. Procedures 4
8. Results ... 5
9. Discussion . 8
10. Conclusion 10
11. Critique 11
12. References ... 11
13. Appendix .. 12

Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to study the stability of a pontoon when its center of
gravity changes vertically or horizontally.

Theory:
When a pontoon is floated in the water, the weight of the pontoon acts vertically through
its center of gravity G. At the same time, the displaced water provides a buoyancy force
vertically through the center of gravity of the displaced water B. In a stable condition,
pontoon weight and buoyancy force are equal and opposite.

Figure 8.1: A typical diagram of pontoon while floating

If the pontoon is now slightly tilted by an angle of d as in figure 8.1, the center of
buoyancy then moves from B to B1. The line of buoyancy intersects the line BG at M.
This point M is called Metacenter and GM Metacentric Height. The equal and opposite
forces through G and B1 exert a couple on the pontoon which acts to restore the pontoon
to the original even keel position i.e. the pontoon is stable. If, however, M lies below G,
the resulting couple will increase the angle of tilt and the pontoon is UNSTABLE. If M
and G coincide, the pontoon is NEUTRAL.
The Metacentric height (GM) may be determined experimentally by moving the jockey
weight () slightly to one side.
Let W = Pontoon weight

= Jockey weight and it moves a distance of dX1

Thus the pontoon center of gravity will move a distance of

d X 1 and the pontoon

W

must now tilts at an angle d from the original vertical line.

GM d

d X1
W

However GG1 = GM d (d in radians)

GM d

d X1
W

Or GM

dX 1
W d

Knowing and W and by measuring dX1 and d, GM may be determined

experimentally. BM may also be calculated theoretically.
From figure 8.1, the center of buoyancy moves from B to B1, the restoring moment is
from the Additional buoyancy due to AA1C on one side and the reduced buoyancy C FF1
on the other side. The shaded element in figure 8.1 has area dS in Figure 8.1 a height of
Xd and a volume of X ddS.
Thus the weight of displaced liquid by this element is X ddS where is specific weight
of water.
Moment due to this buoyancy element about B is X ddS X = X ddS
Total restoring moment

= X 2 ddS
2

= d x d S
= dI
I = second moment of area about axis XX = xdS
If V is the volume of the displaced fluid by pontoon
Buoyancy force

= V

Restoring moment about B

= V x BB1

Thus VBB1

= dI

However, BB1
B BMd

= BMd
= dI

BM

I
V

For pontoon, I

1
3
LD
12

= Pontoon length

= Pontoon width

Anticipated Results:
Based on what we know until now, one of the things that we can expect in this
experiment is that we will not get any horizontal component for bouncy. Because the
bouncy, which is also known as Buoyant Force is the reaction to balance the vertical
force (weight of the object) and therefore it has only vertical components.
Again based the theories that we know, we can expect that the pontoon or any other
floating object with a higher Metacentric Height compare to its center of gravity, will
have a higher stability.

Apparatus:
This equipment is for a study of a pontoon stability when is center of gravity changes
vertically or horizontally.
The equipment consist of
1. A pontoon 200mm wide, 400mm long and 100mm high. The total
2.
3.
4.
5.

weight of pontoon is approximately 276g.

Horizontally Jockey weight 200g.
Vertical adjustable weight 500g.
Height of mass 400mm.
Maximum tilt of pontoon 13.5 degrees.

Procedure:
1. The weight of pontoon and jockey weight adjustable were weighted and the
dimensions of pontoon were measured.
2. The center of gravity of the pontoon was located by putting a knife edge on the mast.

Figure 8.2: Typical diagram of a Pontoon

3. The pontoon was placed in the water.
4. The jockey weight was adjusted to its middle position. The plumb bob was reading
O.
5. The jockey weight was moved slightly to one side and the distance was recorded
along with the angle of tilt.
6. Step 5 was repeated until maximum tilt or until the pontoon was unstable.
7. Step 6 is repeated for different adjustable weight heights.
Typical Pontoon Data:
Width

= 200mm

Length

= 400mm

Jockey weight ()

= 200g

Adjustable weight

= 500g

Total weight (W)

= 276g

Results:
Position of Jockey (cm)
Weight

Angle o

height on the
mast Y1 (mm)

dx/d

150

Metacentric

CG = 7.5 cm
Weight

Height (mm)
Angle o

height on the

dx/d

mast Y1 (mm)
200
CG = 8 cm
Weight

2
9.5
12.
1
87.
5
12
9.5
5

Position of Jockey Weight X1 (cm)

4
6
8
10
12
14
16
2.7
7
5
0
2.5 4.5
7
5
16. 22. 41.
45. 25.
0
16.4
4
9
7
8
5
302

332

185

119

92.3

9.5
12.

7
16.

4
28.

3
38.

6
19.

12

12.7

9.55

4.5
25.

9
12.

Angle o

dx/d

CG = 9 cm
Weight

Angle o

height on the

dx/d

Height (mm)

mast Y1 (mm)
300
CG = 10 cm

Metacentric
Height (mm)

0
0

Height (mm)

Metacentric

12.7

166

mast Y1 (mm)
250

119

Metacentric

height on the

18

8
14.

5.5
20.

0
0
0

10.
5
10.
9

0
0
0

12.
7

Sample of calculations:
From the Manual:
X=8
= 1.6

10
0.0

12
1.6

cm
degree

At 100m height:
dx cm
=
d rad

d=1.6 deg

2 rad
0.0279 rad
360 deg

dx
2
=
=71.6 cm/rad
d 0.0279
Radian is actually dimensionless
Our Calculations:
dx = (10 8) cm = 2cm
d = 2.75o
d = (2.75*2*)/360 = 0.048rad
dx 2cm
=
=0.73
d 2.75
dx
2c m
=
=41 .7 c m/rad
d 0.048 rad

Discussions:
1. The created waves by the pontoon might have constrained the
cord to keep swinging. Because, anytime when we put the
pontoon in the water, there were some waves created around the
pontoon which made the pontoon undulate.
2. Actually, it was difficult to get an exact value for the angle since
the reading cord was oscillating continuously.
3. Human error can always be one of the reasons for difference in
any experiment which in this case improper reading of the angle
would cause some differences.
4. One of the other reasons for the error can be the equipment
failure.
5. Not being consistent with the lab manual procedures and not
following the procedures accordingly and step by step, may lead
to committing errors as well.

Obviously, almost always, there are differences in the experiments.

Sometimes these differences are big and sometimes these differences
are quite acceptable. But there are many ways in order to increase the
level of accuracy of the experiments. Some of those ways are as
follows:

Firstly and obviously we must make sure the apparatus is

working properly and we also must make sure that the set up

that we are going to use is right.

When, we know that the apparatus is working properly and the
set up is the right set up, then we can reach to a higher accuracy
by following the instructions of the laboratory manuals

accordingly and step by step.

The other way to improve the accuracy is by referring to the lab
instructor or lab technician right on the time that we face with

problems.
Using a laboratory manual which is rich of information will also

lead to higher accuracy.

Having a general knowledge of the experiment before performing
it will also lead to improvement of accuracy or meaning to say
that reading about the respective experiment before performing

it.
And etc

Conclusion:
By performing this experiment we learnt and we proved that any floating object will have
a higher stability in water if its Metacentric Height is higher that its center of gravity.
One of the other things that we can conclude from this experiment here is, we can see that
buoyancy has no horizontal component.

Critique:

 The objective of this experiment is not written in the laboratory

manual.
Sample of calculation of this experiment is insufficient.
Theory part of this experiment is confusing.
The water tank (water tap) was relatively small regarding with
the size of the pontoon. The pontoon used to hit the walls of the
tank since the floating area was insufficient.

Reference:
[1].
[2].

Robert L. Mott. Applied Fluid Mechanics. 2006. 6th Ed. SI Units.

Singapore. Pearson Prentice Hall
Manual of the Mechanics of Fluids Laboratory (CEWB121)

10

Appendix:

List of Symbols Used in the Mechanics of Fluids Laboratory Reports

Calculations
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

Symbol
a
d
fs
g
h
m
p
pht

Name
Area
Diameter
Distortive stress
Acceleration due to gravity
Height
Mass
Pressure
Pressure at base of liquid column

t
v

Thickness
Velocity

V
X
Y
F
L

Volume
Co-ordinate
Co-ordinate
Force
Length

Surface tension
Dynamic viscosity

18

Density

19

1m

Density of manometer fluid

20

Unit
2

m
m or mm
N
m2
9.80665 m
sec 2
m
kg or g
N
m2
N
2
m
m
m
sec
m3
m
m
N
m
N
m
Ns
m2
3
kg m
kg m3
2

Kinematic viscosity

m
mm

sec sec

11