EXPERIMENT 2

METACENTRIC HEIGHT
MBUNGELE D
201589493
Table of Contents
Objecive …………………………………..3
Introduction and Theory …………………………….3-7
Methodology …………………………………………….7
Procedure ……………………………………………………7-8
Results ……………………………………………………………8-11
Discussion ……………………………………………………………….11
References ………………………………………………………………….12
Objective
Is to locate the position of the metacenter of a floating body, by
determining its distance from the center of gravity; the distance is known
as the metacentric height.

Introduction and Theory

A metacenter is defined as the intersection of the lines passing through the

original center of a buoyancy of the body on its upright and inclined
position. The Metacentric height is defined as the distance between the
center of gravity of a Metacenter and a floating body. It is a very important
measurement when taking stability into consideration of a floating body
such as that of a ship on water.

Below is the figure which shows the Metacentric Height Apparatus that
consists of different parts namely a mast metal which is mounted above
the pontoon on its center line and the Vertical sliding weight that which
can be adjusted to vary the position vertically of the center of gravity.
There’s also the plumb line which is attached to the top of the mast. A
transverse beam across the top of the pontoon includes a linear scale on
top face to indicate position of the inclining weight.

For observation of static equilibrium of the pontoon, the total weight of

the pontoon must equal the force of buoyancy which is located at the
center of the immersed cross section. The metacentric is identified as the
point of intersection between the line of action of the buoyancy force and
the BG extension. M is required to be above G I order to have a stable
equilibrium.

The section through floating pontoon

The inclining weight is shifted to one side, with center of gravity moving
to a new position G’ and the center of buoyancy B also moves into a
new position B’. The shift in the center of gravity is caused by the
movement of P the distance x given as: [ Px =W (G G’)]
Therefore, Px/W=G G’
By observation from the diagram below G G’= GM tanθ
The metacentric height (GM) is calculated by:
GM = Px/Wtanθ (this cannot be used when theta is equal to zero)

The centre of buoyancy of the vessel.

The centroid of the displaced water can be obtained by taking moments

From the initial upright situation
Where the lateral position of the center of buoyancy is represented by y
and V is the immersed volume. When the vessel rotates about axis, a
new centre of buoyancy is given by another equation:

Sub equation 1 in equation 2

With Ak^2 as the second moment of area of the plane of floatation about
the x-axis.
Equation for smaller displacements:

And BM is:

The volume V is defined as:

As a result, BM gives

As the buoyancy force is equal to weight W of the pontoon and its load:
Vp =W
Formula for depth immersion:

KB is the distance at which the center of buoyancy is at a distance from

the base. KB is equal to the distance divide by two.
The center of gravity is at a distance KG above the base. To give:
GM = BM – KG + KB

Methodology
Set up of equipment:
1. The 0.305 kg of inclining weight was weighed across the width of
the pontoon.
2. The total weight of the pontoon was weighed as 1.488, after
assembling the pontoon, mast and both weights.
3. At start of the experiment, position the sliding weight on the mast
to give the location of the centre of the Gravity for the whole
assembly at the level of the top of pontoon i.e. y= 75 mm. The
position G is obtained as follow:
- By using a knife-edge
- Tying a light string tightly around the mast and carefully
allowing the whole assembly to be suspended from it, adjusting
the position of the suspension point until the mast direction
becomes horizontal
Procedure
1. The inclining weight was moved to the center of the pontoon,
which is indicated 0 mm on the linear scale then after the securing
screw was tightened.
 2. Immersed depth d was measured after floating the pontoon in
water.
3. The inclining weight was traversed to the right by 10 mm
increment to the end of the scale and for the angular displacement
theta of the plumb line of each position for the weight. This step
was repeated but traversing in the left of the center.

4. The position of the pontoon center of gravity was changed by

moving the sliding weight up the mast. The positions which were
suggested were the maximum height and then a location midway
between maximum height and position used in the first test. The
above test was repeated for each new position of G, and the
metacentric height was determined. From the base of th pontoon
the position of the Metacentre M = y + GM from the base of the
pontoon, by using the results from all the tests which were
performed.

5. Temperature of water was measured and density of a liquid

calculated.

RESULTS
Measured values
• Pontoon length (l): 0.350 m
• Pontoon width (b): 0.200 m
• Pontoon height (h): 0.075 m
• Pontoon weight [ total] (W): 1.488 kg
• Inclining weight only (P): 0.305 kg
• Temperature of water and density (p): 19º C and 998 kg/m^3
 Table 1

Pontoon Pontoon Total Inclining Height of Depth of Theoretical Position Angle Experiment
Length Width Weight Weight Centre of Immersion Metacentri of of Heel al
Gravity y c height Inclining θ (°) Metacentri
I b W P (m) d GM Weight c height
(m) (m) (kg) (kg) (m) (m) X GM (m)
(m)

0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 0.01 1.6 0.0734
0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 0.02 3.3 0.0711
0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 0.03 4.7 0.0748
0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 0.04 6.4 0.0731
0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 0.05 7.9 0.0739
0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 -0.01 -1.6 0.0734
0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 -0.02 -3.4 0.0690
0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 -0.03 -4.9 0.0717
0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 -0.04 -6.4 0.0731
0.350 0.200 1.488 0.305 0.0725 0.0216 0.0946 -0.05 -8.1 0.0720

\
 GM vs θ

Discussion
The change in position of the center of gravity seemed to have had a very big effect
in the position of the metacenter. The higher elevation of the vertical sliding weight
produced a greater inclination of the pontoon and thus a lower intersection which is
known as the metacenter. The measured depth and calculated depth don’t differ by
a big margin as it can be seen above in results in the experiment. Equilibrium would
be made to not be stable by adjustment of the inclining weight.
References
1. Robert L. Mott, Joseph A. Untener - Applied
Fluid Mechanics (2014, Pearson)
2. www.labtekindla.com/metacentricheightapparatus
3. www.tecquipment.com/metacentricheightandstabi
lity