Fluid Mechanics-I Lab (MEEN 2217)

Lab Report 09

Title:
To determine the Metacentric Height

Hamid Raza
ME171039
26-2-2019

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 Abstract
The Objective of this experiment was to determine the metacentric height of a floating body.
The metacentric height is very important concept in designing of ships, boats etc. It is the
measurement of static stability of a floating object. In this experiment we calculated the
metacentric height of a floating body and analyzed our results. We found that metacentric
height decrease with the increase in height of center of gravity and this will lead to the
decreased stability of the floating object. All the students performed the experiment
successfully and calculated the readings to determine metacentric height.[1.]

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Table of Contents

Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 2
1. Introduction: ....................................................................................................................... 4
2. Background and Theory: .................................................................................................... 4

a. Metacenter: ..................................................................................................................... 4
b. Metacentric height: ......................................................................................................... 4
c. Center of Gravity: ........................................................................................................... 5
d. Buoyancy: ....................................................................................................................... 5
e. Equilibrium conditions: .................................................................................................. 5

1. Stable Equilibrium: .................................................................................................. 6

2. Unstable Equilibrium:.............................................................................................. 6
3. Neutral Equilibrium: ................................................................................................ 6

3. Apparatus: ........................................................................................................................... 7
4. Experimental procedure:..................................................................................................... 8
5. Results: ............................................................................................................................... 8
6. Discussion:.......................................................................................................................... 9
7. Conclusion: ......................................................................................................................... 9

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1. Introduction:
The stability of anything which is to float on water is of great importance. Metacentric height
is the measurement point of this stability. It is the distance from center gravity to the
metacenter. The theory about this ability of body to remain upright must be clearly
understood before designing a body which is to be floated. According to Archimedes’
principle there is vertical upward force that acts on body when it is immersed in a fluid. This
force is equal to the weight of fluid displaced. Buoyancy force results from different
pressures acting on the different sides of fluid. [2]

2. Background and Theory:

For a body to be stable during floating the gravity force and buoyancy force must be acting
along same line.

a. Metacenter:
When a floating body is tilted by a small angle the point about which the body starts
oscillating is Metacenter. It the point of intersection of symmetrical axis of floating body and
the new line of action of force of buoyancy.

b. Metacentric height:
It is the distance between the center of gravity of the floating body and the metacenter. Larger
is the metacentric height more will be the stability.

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c. Center of Gravity:
The point where whole weight of body act vertically downward is called center of gravity.

d. Buoyancy:
The force which act vertically upward on the body which is immersed in the fluid and is
equal to the weight of fluid displaced is called buoyancy. It act through the centroid of the
displaced volume.[5]
𝐹1 = 𝛿𝑔𝑧1 𝑑𝐴 (1)
𝐹2 = 𝛿𝑔𝑧2 𝑑𝐴 (2)
FB = F1 – F2
FB = 𝛿𝑔𝑧1 𝑑𝐴 − 𝛿𝑔𝑧2 𝑑𝐴
FB = 𝛿𝑔𝑑𝐴(𝑧1 − 𝑧2 )
FB = 𝛿𝑔𝑧𝑑𝐴 …..(1)
As we know;
zdA = v
δv = m
putting in eq.(1)
FB = 𝛿𝑔𝑉
FB = 𝑚𝑔
FB = 𝑊

e. Equilibrium conditions:
The point of metacenter relative to the position of center of gravity of the floating body
determines the stability of the floating body.

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 1. Stable Equilibrium:
If the body regain its equilibrium position when it is disturbed from original equilibrium
state is called stable equilibrium. If the point metacentric point is above the point of center of
gravity the body will be in stable equilibrium because there will be a restoring moment in this
case which will cause the body to come back to its original equilibrium state.

2. Unstable Equilibrium:
If the body does not regain its equilibrium state when it is disturbed is called unstable
equilibrium. If the point metacentric point is below the point of center of gravity the body
will be in unstable equilibrium, because the restoring moment in this case will not make
body to came back to its equilibrium state.

3. Neutral Equilibrium:
If the body regain its equilibrium state at a new location or point when it is disturbed is called
neutral equilibrium and if the point metacentric point is located at the point of center of
gravity the body will be in neutral equilibrium.[6]

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3. Apparatus:
The apparatus is arranged in the following way. A pontoon which has a rectangular shape
floats in the water and has a plastic sale, with five rows of v-slots, at equal distance on the
sail. The distance between the slots in 7.5 mm interval, equal disposed about the sail center
line. An adjustable weight, consisting of two machined cylinders which can be screwed
together, fits into the v-slots on the sail this can be used to change the center of gravity height
and the angle of list of the pontoon. A plumb bob is suspended from the top of the sail and is
used for the conjunctions with the scale fitted below the base of the sail to measure the angle
of the list.

Fig.1 Metacentric Height Apparatus

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4. Experimental procedure:
1. First step is to point out the center of gravity and the point of center of buoyancy.
2. Now move the weight to the left and right of the threads, and the will cause the
pontoon to oscillate.
3. In the next step we will measure the angle and mark the center of buoyancy point
which will be shifted to new location.
4. In the last we will measure the length from the center of gravity to the metacenter and
will compare this value with the theoretical value.

5. Results:
1
MG = V − GB
sub

Where;
MG = Metacentric height
I = Moment of inertia
Vsub = Submerged volume
GB = distance between the center of gravity and the center of buoyancy

Serial Moment of Vsub GB MG(cm)

No. inertia (cm4) (cm3)
‘I’(cm4) Experimental Theoretical
1 2.4×10-2 0.172 -8.20×10-4 22.1 21.5
2 2.4×10-2 0.172 -8.22×10-4 22.1 21.5
3 2.4×10-2 0.172 -8.25×10-4 22.1 21.5
4 2.4×10-2 0.172 -8.45×10-4 22.4 21.5
5 2.4×10-2 0.172 -8.7×10-4 22.6 21.5

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6. Discussion:
In this experiment we set up the pontoon correctly and placed in a container filled with the
water. We calculated the result as shown in the table above. We can see that as the height of
the center of gravity increases the metacentric height decreases. As we know less metacentric
height means less stability so it can be concluded that the stability decreases if the height
center of gravity is increased. We can also say that if the if metacentric height is lowered it
will result in larger list angles for similar displacement of the jockey weight. In simple words,
the lower the metacentric height the more susceptible a floating object is to listing which
indicates a decrease in stability. [7]
There can also be some errors possible in the calculation which includes human error such as
the error of parallax when taking measurements, also error due to inaccurate measuring
equipment. If the reference points are clear on the pontoon better accuracy can be achieved.
Also care should be taken when measuring the center of gravity point in order to achieve
better accuracy. [11]

7. Conclusion:
At the end we came to the conclusion. We satisfied the aim of the experiment by repeating
the experiment by taking CG point at different positions. We concluded from the experiment
that if we will increase the metacentric height by decreasing the CG point this will result in
the more stability of the floating object. And if we increase the CG of gravity point it will
decrease the metacentric height and this will result in reduced stability of the floating object.
So from these observations we can conclude that if we want the object to achieve maximum
stability the point of center of gravity must be kept as low as possible.[9][10]

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8. References:

http://www.academia.edu/18439230/Buoyancy_Report_Thermos [1.]
http://site.iugaza.edu.ps/mymousa/files/Experiment-2hydraulics-lab-.pdf[2]
https://www.scribd.com/doc/72240844/Metacentric-Height [5]
https://www.scribd.com/doc/140385509/BUOYANCY-FLOTATION-METACENTRIC-
HEIGHT-Report [6]
https://www.scribd.com/doc/72240844/Metacentric-Height[7]
http://site.iugaza.edu.ps/t77328/files/Experiment-2.pdf[10][11]

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