STI MYANMAR UNVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING

Stability of Floating Body Experiment

Lab Report

Student Name : Swan Htet Aung

Student ID : STI-2931
Date : 30.6.2020
EXPERIMENT: STABILITY OF A FLOATING BODY

AIM
To verify experimentally the stability of floating body by the use of a TecQuipment Laboratory
Apparatus:
i) Analytical determination of metacentric height GM;
GM = MB - GB
ii) Finding the distance from the metacenter to the original point of Buoyancy in upright position
of the pontoon.
APPRATUS
- large sink half filled with water
- flat bottom pontoon
- weights

INTRODUCTION
When the body undergoes an angular displacement about a horizontal axis, the shape of
the immersed volume changes and so the center of buoyancy moves relative to the body. As a
result of above observation stable equilibrium can be achieved, under certain condition.
Laboratory experiment 2 is an exercise in hydrostatics. It is designed to demonstrate the stability
of a floating cylinder and to familiarize the student with the concept of buoyancy, metacenter,
and metacentric height. It is also an experimental verification of the theory presented in the
textbook. The center of the buoyancy of a floating body depends on the shape of the body and on
the position in which it is floating. If the body is disturbed by a small angle of heel, the center of
buoyancy changes because the shape of the submerged volume is changed. The point of
intersection of the lines of action of the buoyancy force before and after heel is called the
metacenter and the distance between the center of gravity and M, is called the metacentric
height.
DIAGRAM

PROCEDURE
1. The horizontal sliding weight was set up to position x from the center.
2. The vertical sliding weight was moved to bottom position.
3. A tank was filled with water and the floating body was placed on top of the water
4. Then we gradually raise the vertical sliding weight and read off the angle on heel indicator.
The height of sliding weight was recorded at top edge of weight and enter in table together with
angle.
5. the vertical sliding weight was raised until the floating apparatus reach instability point and
recorded the Data point.
Determination of Metacentric height

1- Practically

GM = Px /WsinѲ
Where, x = distance from pontoon centerline to added weight.
Where W = weight of the vessel including P.

2- Theoretically

GM = MM + OB – OG
BM = I/V
I = BD3/12
Where V = volume of displaced liquid
CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, this experiment was successfully carried out even though the data
collected are a large difference between the value of metacentric height obtained by
extrapolation on a graph and the calculated metacentric height. There are some error take place
during the experiment was carried out which could give effect to the data obtained. Firstly, error
due to the observer or parallax error. This error take place during the observer take the reading of
the depth of pontoon submerged in water and the angle tilt. Thus, to overcome this error, the eye
of the observer must be 90o perpendicular to the measurement in order to get an accurate result.
Next, the disturbance due to the water and air also can affect the measurement taken. Thus, to
overcome this error, the experiment should being done in ideal condition so that an accurate
measurement will be obtained.

SOURCES OF ERROR
Experimental Error: The plumb-bob line may not be looped properly around the scale.
Parallax Error: Incorrect eye-level reading of the measurement on the steel ruler while
measuring height of the center of gravity.