As seen from Table 2, the results show that as the sliding mass is lowered, the location of

the floating body’s center of gravity is closer to the base of the mast. The angle of heel increases
with the distance (X) of the traversing load P from the mast, moreover, considering the same
distance X, the angle of heel decreases with the decrease of the sliding mass height.
Among each group of the same sliding mass height, it can be observed that the value of
MBo and MG generally increases with the increasing distance X and heeling angle. Between the
groups of different sliding mass heights but the same distance X, the value of MBo decreases
while MG increases with the decreasing sliding mass height. The more tilted the floating body is,
the greater the values of MBo and MG are.
The values of MBo are much larger than the metacentric height, MG, since the center of
buoyancy (B) is located under the center of gravity (G). The metacentric height is measured from
the metacenter to the center of gravity, and it follows that as the sliding load height decreases,
the center of gravity slightly shifts down thereby increasing the length of MG, as observed from
Table 2. No general trend can be observed from the percentage error between and among the
groups.
In the experiment, the floating body was subjected to different loading conditions that tilt
the body, shift its center of gravity and reposition its center of buoyancy. The intersection of the
lines drawn through B and G is called the metacenter (M) which lies above G in a stable body.
This gives a positive value for MG. From the results of the experiment, all obtained values of
MG are positive, indicating that the floating body assembly was stable. Moreover, should the
metacentric height be negative, then M lies below G and the body is deemed unstable.
The experimental values calculated vary from the theoretical values by up to 18.30%. This
deviation could be due to a few errors during the experimental procedure. Some errors may
include parallax error during the reading of the measurement, recording the measurements before
the apparatus was completely stable, water disturbance due to wind or vibration, and slight
inaccuracies in the measurement of distances (e.g., slightly slanted steel tape that is not
completely parallel to the length being measured). 

Sample Computations:

Theoretical MB o=
B2
12 D [
1+
tan 2 θ
2 ]
[ ]
2 2
(20) tan ( 2.9° )
Theoretical MB o= 1+
12(2.4) 2
Theoretical MB o=13.9 cm

P ( xcosθ−zsinθ) D
Experimental MB o= +(z +t − )
γ ∀ sinθ 2

1
 Experimental MB o=
3.02 N (1 cos (2.9 °)−4.3 sin(2.9 ° )) cm
(9810 ×10 −6 N
)(20 cm)(35 cm)(2.4 cm)sin ⁡(2.9 °)
(
+ 4.3+ 7.5−
2.4
2
cm )
cm3
Experimental MB o=13.43 cm
D
GB o=z +t −
2
2.4
GB o=4.3+7.5−
2
GB o=10.6 cm

Theoretical MG=Theoretical MBo −GB o

2.4
Theoretical MG=13.9 cm−( 4.3+7.5− ) cm
2
Theoretical MG=3.3 cm

Experimental MG=Experimental MBo −GB o

Experimental MG=13.4 cm−10.6 cm
Experimental MG=2.8 cm

|Theoretical MG−Experimental MG|

Percent Error ( % )= x 100
Theoretical MG
|3.3−2.8|
Percent Error ( % )= x 100
3.3
Percent Error ( % )=14.5 %

I. CONCLUSIONS

The stability of any floating body is of paramount importance. A floating body would be
considered stable if the metacenter is above the center of gravity. If the metacenter coincides
with the center of gravity, it would be considered in neutral equilibrium while unstable if it is
below the center of gravity. When a body is floating on water, two forces act on the body which
are the gravitational force acting downwards through the center of gravity and the buoyant force
acting upwards through the center of buoyancy. At equilibrium, both the center of buoyancy and
center of gravity will lie on the same vertical line. However, upon the introduction of weights,
the center of gravity of the vessel is affected in a way that it always moves to the direction of any
added weight, away from any removed weight, and parallel to the direction of the shift of weight.
On the other hand, when the floating body tilts, one side displaces more water than the other side
causing a change in shape of the displaced volume thereby causing a shift in the location of the
center of buoyancy as well.
Following the principles discussed above, in actual vessels, heavy weights should always
be positioned as low along the center of gravity in order for the center of gravity to move

2
downwards towards the weight added thereby increasing the vessel’s metacentric height. A
larger metacentric height implies greater initial stability against overturning. Under various
conditions of loading, metacentric height could be calculated by using the mathematical
expression, Mbo - Gbo.
For future experiments, it is recommended to conduct the experiment in a setting with
very minimal external forces as possible that could affect the set-up such as the wind that could
cause water vibrations.
II. REFERENCES

Abolhassani, M. (2011, November 1). On the Stability of Floating Bodies. Retrieved September

30, 2021, from https://arxiv.org/pdf/physics/0411244.pdf

“Safety Practices Related to Small Fishing Vessel Stability.” fao.org,

http://www.fao.org/3/i0625e/i0625e02b.pdf.

Stability of Floating Bodies. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://mathalino.com/reviewer/fluid-

mechanics-and-hydraulics/stability-floating-bodies