1.

0 OBJECTIVE
Determination of centre gravity at different level on a floating body.

2.0 THEORY

When designing a vessel such as a ship, which is to float on water, it is clearly necessary
to be able to establish beforehand that it will float upright in stable equilibrium. Figure 1
shows such a floating body, which is in equilibrium under the action of two equal and
opposite forces, namely, its weight acting vertically downwards through its centre of
gravity and the buoyancy force of equal magnitude acting vertically upwards at the centre
of buoyancy. When in equilibrium, the points G and B lie in the same vertical line.

Figure 1: Derivation of conditions for Stability

The centre of gravity G may be shifted sideways by moving a jockey of weight (Wj)
across the width of the body. When the jockey is moved a distance (xj) as shown in
Figure 2(b), the centre of gravity of the whole assembly moves to G’. The distance GG’,
denoted by (xg) is given from the elementary static as

W jx j
xg=
W .

The shift of the centre of gravity causes the body to tilt to a new equilibrium position, at a
small angle θ to the vertical, as shown in Fig 2(c), with an associate movement of the
centre of buoyancy from B → B’. The point B’ must lie vertically below G’, since the

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body is in equilibrium in the tilted position. Let the vertical line of the upthrust through
B’ intersect the original line of upthrust BG at the point M, called the metacentre.
Accordingly, the equilibrium is stable if the metacentre lies above G. Provided that θ is
xg
GM=
small, the distance. GM is given by: θ .

The dimension GM is called the metacentric height. In the experiment described below, it
is measured directly from the slope of a graph of xj against θ, obtained by moving a
W j Xj
jockey across a pontoon. Which GM = ∙ .
W Q

Determination of BM
The movement of the centre of buoyancy to B’ produces a moment of the buoyancy force
about the original centre of buoyancy B. To establish the magnitude of this moment, first
consider the element of moment exerted by a small element of change in displaced
volume. An element of width x, lying at distance x from B, has an additional depth θ.x

due to the tilt of the body. So the volume V of the element is: δV =θ . x . Lδx=θ Lx δx .

And the element of additional buoyancy force is δF =wδV =wθ Lx δx , where W is the
specific weight of water. The element of moment about B produced by the element of
2
force is δM =δF . x=wθ Lx δx .

The total moment about B is obtained by integration over the whole of the plan area of

the body, in the plane of the water surface:

M=wθ ∫ Lx 2 dx=wθI .

In this, ‘I’ represents the second moment, about the axis of symmetry, of the water plane
area of the body. Now this moment represents the movement of the upthrust wV from B
to B’, namely wV.BB’. Equating this to the expression for M, wV . BB'=wθI .

From the geometry of the figure, BB’, = θ.BM and eliminating BB’ between these last 2
I
BM =
equations gives BM as V .

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For the particular case of a body with a rectangular planform of width D and length L, the
3
LD
I=
second moment , 12 . Now the distance BG may be found from the computed or
measured positions of B and of G, so the metacentric height GM can be calculated by the
equation GM=BM −BG .

3.0 EQUIPMENT

i) Plastic Sail
ii) Pontoon
iii) Jockey Weight

Figure 2: Pontoon

4.0 PROCEDURE
1. The weight and dimension of pontoon are measured.
2. The pontoon is suspended from a hole at one side of sail, as indicated in figure.

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3. The jockey weight is placed at such a position on the line of symmetry as to cause
the pontoon to hang with its base roughly vertical. A pumbline is hung from the
suspension point. The height of the centre of gravity,G of the whole suspended
assembly then lies at the point where the plumbline intersects the line of
symmetry of the pontoon.

4. The point G from OG is measured. (Refer table 1)

5. Steps 2 to 4 for different sail are repeated.
6. With the jockey weight on the line of symmetry, small magnetic weight are used
to trim the assembly to even keel, indicated by a zero reading on the angular
scale.

7. The jockey is then moved in step across the width of the pontoon, the
corresponding angle of tilt being recorded at each step. (Refer table 2).
8. This procedure is then repeated with the jockey traversed at a number of different
heights.

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5.0 RESULT & ANALYSIS

1. Recorded the data when experiment.

Weight and Dimensions of Pontoon

Weight of pontoon (excluding jockey weight), Wp = 23.034 Nm

Weight of jockey, Wj = 3.816 Nm

Total weight of floating assembly, W = Wp + Wj = 26.850 Nm

W
V=
Pontoon displacement, w = 2.737 m3

Breadth of Pontoon, D = 202 mm = 0.202 m

Length of Pontoon, L = 359 mm = 0.359 m

Area of pontoon in plane of water surface, A = L D = 0.0725 m2

3
LD
I= 2.4659 x 10
−4

Second Moment of area, 12 = m4

V
Depth of immersion, OC= = 37.752 m = 37752 mm
A

OC
Height of centre of buoyancy B above O , OB = BC = = 18876 mm
2

2. Fill the table.

Table 1

Yj (mm) 316.0 260.0 205.0 149.0 99.0

OG (mm) 92.0 33.7 75.4 67.1 58.7

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Table 2

Jockey Jockey Displacement from Centre, Xj (mm)

Height, yj -45 -30 -15 0 15 30 45
99.0 -7.6 -5.1 -2.5 0 2.5 5.1 7.6
149.0 -8.9 -5.9 -3.0 0 3.0 5.9 8.9
205.0 - -7.0 -3.5 0 3.5 7.0 -
260.0 - -8.8 -4.4 0 4.4 8.8 -
316.0 - - -5.8 0 5.8 - -

Table 3:

Jockey Xj/θ (mm/0) Metacentric

BM
Height OG (mm) Height, GM
15 30 45 (mm)
(mm) (mm)
99.0 58.7 2.5 5.1 7.6 0.3675 90.099
149.0 67.1 3.0 5.9 8.9 0.4845 90.099
205.0 75.4 3.5 7.0 - 0.6091 90.099
260.0 33.7 4.4 8.8 - 0.7184 90.099
316.0 92.0 5.8 - - 0.8413 90.099

Figure 3: Determine the Centre of Gravity

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 Figure 4: Dimension of pontoon

Figure 5: Different angle for different weight position.

(Weight shown in maximum and minimum value)

6.0 DATA ANALYSIS

a) Finding gradient, m from graph as attached.

At line yj = 99 mm
7.6−(−7.6)
m= = 0.1689 o/mm
45−(−45)

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 At line yj = 149 mm
8.9−(−8.9)
m= = 0.1978 o/mm
45−(−45)

At line yj = 205 mm
7.0−(−7.0)
m= = 0.2333 o/mm
30−(−30)

At line yj = 260 mm
8.8−(−8.8)
m= = 0.2933 o/mm
30−(−30)

At line yj = 316 mm
5.8−(−5.8)
m= = 0.3867 o/mm
15−(−15)

b) Finding metacentric height, GM

Wj Xj
From GM = .
W ❑

Wj
= . Xj  Y = mX + C
W .GM

Where Y =¿
Wj
m=
W .GM
X = Xj
C=0

Since the gradients, m is found from the graph of  vs Xj, therefore, GM for each jockey
height can be determined.

Wj Wj 3.816
m= = = 0.1421
W .GM W 26.850
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 Wj
GM =
W .m
0.1421
GM =
m
At line yj = 99 mm
0.1421 0.1421
GM = = = 0.8413
m 0.1689

At line yj = 149 mm
0.1421 0.1421
GM = = = 0.7184
m 0.1978

At line yj = 205 mm
0.1421 0.1421
GM = = = 0.6091
m 0.2333

At line yj = 260 mm
0.1421 0.1421
GM = = = 0.4845
m 0.2933

At line yj = 316 mm
0.1421 0.1421
GM = = = 0.3675
m 0.3867

7.0 QUESTIONS

1) Discuss about the result of this experiment.

2) How would the stability of the pontoon be affected if it were floated on a liquid
with a greater density than that water?
3) In civil engineering practice, the stability of a floating body applied in many
hydraulics works. As a potential civil engineer, describe how this experiment can
be applied in this field.

8.0 ANSWERS

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1) The center of gravity, G of the pontoon depends on its shape and the position in
where it is floating. When the body is disturbed by a disturbance, the center of
gravity, G changes because the shape of the submerged volume is changed. In
order to sustain stability, the GM of any floating body must be positive. That
simply implies that greater the positivity of the metacentric height of a body, the
greater stability it is able to attain. Besides, the stable state of a floating body
implicates minimum potential energy that may be associated with the body in that
state. Another factor that is necessary for a body to stay stable is the center of
gravity should be as minimum as possible. To change the center of gravity, G and
the angle of pontoon, jockey which is an adjustable weight is fit into the five rows
of slots. To balance the pontoon at the beginning of the experiment, the two small
magnetic trim weights are put on the bottom of the pontoon to get zero reading on
the angular scale. The measure of stability for floating body is the metacentric
height, GM which is the distance between the center of gravity, G and metacenter
height, M. The metacentric height is calculated from the gradient of the graph
plotted. When the jockey is placed at higher slot, smaller value of GM is
obtained. On the other hand, when jockey is placed at a lower slot, GM showed a
larger value. This is due to the center of gravity, G is adjusted to a lower position
which means that the stability increases. The graph that we plotted shows that the
lines become steeper for each increase in jockey height.
2) The pontoon submerged lesser if a denser liquid is used instead of water. This
means that the stability of a body decreses with the higher density of liquid. Since
a body naturally floats higher on a denser liquid, then the point of center of
gravity will be higher above the liquid while the centroid remains under the
liquid. For a case where the centre of gravity is above the centre of buoyancy on a
floating body, the body tends to become unstable. Hence, the force of the weight
and the force of buoyancy will turn into an overturning force that tends to capsize
the body. However, the shape of the body and the base area at the bottom of the
body plays a significant role in its stability.
3) There are many situations where civil engineers have to work from barges and
pontoons floating on water, rather than from dry land. A typical example could be

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 building a bridge across a wide river, where the girders forming the structure
have to be floated out on barges and then lifted into positions using floating
cranes. Another example could be the construction of a marina or jetty in the sea.
In these situations for all of the construction activities may have to take place
from floating barges and pontoons. Therfore it is essential for a civil engineer to
have the good understanding of whether the pontoon can float or sink, and
whether it is stable or not. To make a pontoon to stay stable, the height of the
centre of gravity is very important. The higher the centre of gravity, the
possibility that the pontoon will overturn is higher. If a pontoon or ship carries
heavy ballast in its bottom holds then the centre of gravity will be relatively low,
so it will be more stable and less likely to overturn. If a pontoon or ship carries a
heavy cargo on deck, then the centre of gravity will be relatively high to make it
stable.

9.0 DISCUSSION

In general, there are a few precaution steps that need to be considered to obtain the
results for this experiment :

i) Make sure the eye position is directly proportional to the angular scale reading to avoid
parallax error.

ii) Make sure the pontoon is in equilibrium position and the angular scale aceived zero
reading in the beginning of the experiment.

iii) Make sure the pontoon is in stable state before the angular scale reading is taken.

10.0 CONCLUSION

The lower the centre of gravity, the more stable the pontoon is.

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