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Analysis
a. Experimental Analysis
The experiment is intended to determine the metacentric of a floating body.
Metacentric may be defined as a point about which a floating body starts oscillating,
when given a small angular displacement, where metacentric height is the distance
between the center of gravity (G) of the floating body and the metacenter (M). We
started the experiment by making sure the equipment was already in a proper setup.
Then, we filled up the hydraulic bench with water and determined the center of gravity
of the pontoon box by ensuring the transversal load had been set exactly on the middle
of the pontoon box. The height of the load is set according to the variable, which is 20
cm, 25 cm, and 30 cm. We used the string that had been attached to the pontoon box to
hung the pontoon box on the vertical pole between transversal. load and shear load.
Then, we hold the plummet to make sure that the center of gravity was at the exact
value. We measured and noted the position of the string from the lower part of the
pontoon box when it was perpendicular to pontoon box vertical pole. Therefore, the
center of gravity of the pontoon box was obtained.
We began to float the pontoon box on the hydraulic bench and wait until the
plummet had reached the steady condition, which is at 0o. Then, when the pontoon had
been put on the water, we had to measure the submerged depth by using ruler. The value
of this measurement was needed in order to determine the center of buoyancy force
from the lower part of the pontoon box. We determined the shear load arranger and
started to shifting the transversal load to 15 mm, 30 mm, 45 mm, and 60 mm to the
right, then recorded the angle of heel shown by the plummet. At last, we repeated the
same steps by shifting the transversal load to the left.
b. Results Analysis
The data that was obtained from the experiment include; the value of center of
gravity of the pontoon (G), depth of the submerged pontoon box (D) at various position
of shear load (t). These data were then used to determine the metacentric height (GM).
GM is obtained by calculating the distance between center of buoyancy and metacenter
(BM) subtracted by the distance between center of buoyancy and pontoon box’s center
of gravity (BG). Then, making a graph showing the relationship between transversal
mass as the X-axis and sin average as the Y axis, as well as taking the gradient of the
graph. Therefore, the equations that were used had been explained in the data
processing. By taking into account;
W = 1457 gram = 1429.317 N
w = 322 gram = 315.882 N
g = 9.81 kg/m2 = 0.981 g/cm2
The results can be listed as;
Distance of Vertical Mass Relative
b GMpracticum GMtheory
(cm) error
20 0.0272 8.1250757 9.6667 15.49%
25 0.0303 7.2937973 8.6515 15.69%
30 0.0334 6.6182811 7.6889 13.94%
c. Error Analysis
The experiment is resulting in a relatively high value of error. Though, it might
be possible that we had done some mistakes during the experiment. These errors can be
listed as;
- We might have inaccurately read the 𝜃 value, we rounded up the value thus, making
it not exactly as it supposed to be.
- We might have been wrong in determining the center of gravity of the pontoon box.
In determining the center of gravity, we had to make 90o degrees angle between the
string which attached with the vertical pole and making it balance to the string on
the other end. We might have not made it exactly 90o.
- On measuring the depth of the submerged part of the pontoon box, we might have
inaccurately measured it since the water made an optical bias. To add, the bigger
the value of vertical mass, the greater the depth of the submerged area of the
pontoon box.
II. Conclusion
From this experiment, we can conclude that;
- The results of the experiment
Distance of Vertical Mass Relative
b GMpracticum GMtheory
(cm) error
20 0.0272 8.1250757 9.6667 15.49%
25 0.0303 7.2937973 8.6515 15.69%
30 0.0334 6.6182811 7.6889 13.94%
- The high value of errors could be caused by our inaccurate reading and inexact
balancing of the pontoon.
- This experiment is applicable in ship making and designing. If the metacentric
height (GM) of a ship is large, the righting arms at small angles of heel will be large.
This will cause the ship to resist from rolling over. In ships, large GM and large
righting arms are desirable for resistance to damage, in the contrary, a smaller GM
is sometimes desirable for a slow, easy roll that allows for a more accurate gunfire,
as in a naval ship.
III. References
- Departemen Teknik Sipil Fakultas Teknik Universitas Indonesia. 2016. Modul
Praktikum Mekanika Fluida dan Hidroloka. Depok: Laboratorium Hidrolika,
Hidrologi, dan Sungai.
- Ship Stability and Buoyancy. Blue Peter Australia Files.
IV. Appendix