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LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 7

DETERMINATION OF METACENTRIC HEIGHT OF FLOATING BODY

Both metacentric height and metacenter are important concepts in naval architecture. They
relate to the ability of a floating body, such as ship, to resist capsizing due to external forces such
as waves or wind. Metacentric height (GM) is a measure of the initial stability of a floating body,
an it is a distance between the center of gravity (G) of the body and the metacenter is the point of
intersection of the centerline of the floating body in the upright position a vertical line passing
through the new center of buoyancy of the body when it is slightly heeled. The metacentric height
is an important measure of ship’s stability as higher GM indicates greater stability, and a lower
GM indicates lower stability.

A floating body is in equilibrium when the forces acting on it are balances and it remains in a
fixed position in the fluid without sinking or capsizing. There are three main conditions of
equilibrium for a floating body. First is stable equilibrium, in this condition, the center of gravity
of the floating body is below the metacenter and the body will return to its original position after
being slightly moved. This means that when the body is lightly tilted, the buoyant force will act to
restore it to its original upright position. The second condition is the unstable equilibrium, where
the center of gravity of the floating body will capsize when it is slightly displaces from its
equilibrium position. This means that when the body is slightly tilted, the buoyant force will act to
further tilt the body until it capsizes. Third and last condition is the neutral equilibrium, wherein
the center of gravity of the floating body is at the same level as the metacenter and the body will
remain in its displaced position when it is slightly tilted.

II. Objectives

1. To locate the position of metacenter of the boat without displacement of the given mass.
2. To locate the position of metacenter of the boat with displacement of the given mass.

III. Materials/Equipments

1. FME11 unit (Boat) 2. Ruler 3. Large Tub 4. Weighing scale

IV. Procedure

1. Using the weighing scale, determine the weight of the unit (Boat).
2. Place the vertical mass of the unit at its lowest point.
3. Place the horizontal mass of the unit at the center.
4. Put the unit in the tub filled with water. Measure the draft on each side of the unit.
5. After the measurement has been made remove the unit from the tub.
6. Record the weight and measurement in Table 1. You can verify your measurements with your
data in Laboratory Exercise No. 6.
7. Draw the immersed volume on Figure 1. Calculate the immersed volume. Using the density
of water, calculate the weight of immersed volume.
Figure 1.
8. Determine the location of center of buoyancy. (Hint: This is the center of gravity of immersed
volume).
9. Calculate the moment of inertia of the horizontal section of the unit taken at the surface of the
fluid.
10. Calculate the distance from center of buoyance (B) to Metacenter (M) using the formula:
MB = I Where: I - moment of inertia of the horizontal section
V V – immersed volume
11. Using the result of Laboratory Exercise 5 & 6, obtain the position of center of gravity of the
unit.
12. Determine the metacentric height using the formula given below.
Where: MB – distance from metacenter to center of buoyancy
MG = MB - GB MG – metacentric height
GB – distance from center of gravity to center of center of buoyancy
13. Using the computed metacentric height determine the stability of the boat when there is no
horizontal displacement of the given mass.

Stability – If MG (+) Stable; If MG(-) Unstable

Table 1. Draft at Different Location of Horizontal and Vertical Mass.

Displacement Weight Draft Draft Draft Draft MB GB MG

Vertical/ of Boat V1 V2 V3 V4
Horizontal [cm] [cm] [cm] [cm]
Lowest/ 1.81 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 0.0178 0.0101 0.00771
Center

14. Now with the vertical mass at its lowest position, move the horizontal mass a distance of 2
cm to the left. Put the boat on the tub filled with water.
15. Measure the list angle (Ø) of the boat (The angle made by the boat with the water surface).
16. Measure the draft on each side of the unit. Determine the center of buoyancy using the result
of Laboratory Exercise No. 6.
17. Draw the immersed volume on Figure 2. Calculate the following quantities and dimensions
(v, L and V) where v – volume of wedge, L – distance between centroid of wedge, V –
Volume submerged.

Figure 2.
 L
Ø
v
V

Displacement Weight Draft Draft Draft Draft MB GB MG

Vertical/ of Boat V1 V2 V3 V4
Horizontal [cm] [cm] [cm] [cm]
Lowest/2cm L 1.81 1.9 2.5 2.5 3.1 1.07 0.0081 1.07

18. Determine the metacentric height using the formula given below. Remember that you have
determine the center of buoyancy and center of gravity at this position in Laboratory Exercise
No. 5 & 6. Use the result of the activity in determining GB.

Where: MB – distance from metacenter to center of buoyancy

MG = MB - GB MG – metacentric height
GB – distance from center of gravity to center of center of buoyancy
MB = vL/Vsin Ø

19. Using the computed metacentric height determine the stability of the boat with the given
horizontal displacement of the given mass.

Stability – If MG (+) Stable; If MG(-) Unstable

20. Using the same location of horizontal mass, move up the vertical mass 10 cm from its initial
position. Record the list angle for this displacement.
21. Repeat Procedure 15-18.

Figure 2.

L
Ø
v
V

Displacement Weight Draf Draft Draft Draft MB GB MG

Vertical/ of Boat t V1 V2 V3 V4
Horizontal [cm] [cm] [cm] [cm]
10cm U/2cm L 1.8 1.8 2.5 2.8 3.6 1.54 0.0106 1.53

22. Using the computed metacentric height determine the stability of the boat with the given
horizontal and vertical displacement of the given mass.
 Stability – If MG (+) Stable; If MG(-) Unstable

23. Move the vertical mass further up the axis. At what vertical distance does the boat start to tip
over? Compute the location of metacenter at this position.
24. Return the vertical mass to the lowest position. Now move the horizontal mass to the left until
the boat start to tip over. At what horizontal distance does the boat start to tip over? Compute
the location of metacenter at this position.

V. Calculations and Results.

VI. Discussion of Results

The transition from stable equilibrium to unstable equilibrium of a floating body is

determined by the position of the metacenter relative to the center of gravity of the body. The
metacenter is the intersection of the vertical line passing through the center of buoyancy and the
vertical line passing through the center of buoyancy of a slightly tilted floating body. If the
metacenter is above the center of gravity, the body is said to be in a stable equilibrium and if the
metacenter is located below the center of gravity, the body is in an unstable equilibrium because
any slight tilting of the body will cause the center of buoyancy to move in the direction of the tilt.
Therefore, the transition from stable equilibrium to unstable equilibrium occurs when the
metacenter moves below the center of gravity, which can occur if the vertical position of the
center of gravity is raised or the horizontal position of the center of mass is moved away from the
centerline of the body.

The metacentric height is an important parameter in determining the stability of a floating

body. Listed below is the general procedure to determine the metacentric height of a floating
body:

1. Tilt the body slightly and mark the new position of the center of buoyancy.
2. Measure the distance between the original center of buoyancy and the metacenter. This
height is known as the metacentric height.
3. Calculate the metacentric height by dividing the transverse metacentric distance by the
angle of heel.

Conditions to satisfy in order to attain stability of a floating body include:

 The center of gravity must be below the metacenter to ensure stable equilibrium.
 The metacentric height must be sufficient to ensure that the righting moment
generated by a slight tilt of the body is greater than the overturning moment, which
can be caused by external forces such as waves and wind.
 The body must be designed to have sufficient buoyancy and stability characteristics
to remain afloat in all sea conditions.
 The body must be free to move and adjust to changes in the fluid environment to
ensure that it remains in equilibrium.
 The crew must be trained in the proper handling and operation of the body to
minimize the risk of capsizing or instability.

Overall, achieving stability of a floating body requires careful consideration of the design,
construction, and operation of the body, as well as proper training and maintenance of the
crew.
VII. Conclusion:

In conclusion, understanding the stability and safety of maritime vessels and other floating
structures depends critically on the calculation of a floating body's metacentric height. A floating
body's stability is measured by its metacentric height, which shows how well it can resist capsizing
and maintain the equilibrium. The metacentric height can be properly established by experiments or
mathematical computations. The body is physically tilted as part of experimental techniques, and the
variations in equilibrium are then observed. In contrast, mathematical computations use the
hydrostatics and fluid mechanics concepts to determine the metacentric height based on the body's
geometry and displacement.

A floating body's dynamic behavior is affected by the metacentric height under a variety of
circumstances, including changes in weight distribution, wave action, or outside forces. Greater
stability is typically indicated by a higher metacentric height since the body tends to return to its
equilibrium posture more quickly. A lower metacentric height, on the other hand, denotes decreased
stability and a higher chance of capsizing. In accordance to the boat's stated vertical and horizontal
displacements, the metacentric height is equal to 0.00771 cm for the displacement where the vertical
component is at its lowest and the horizontal component is at its center. The metacentric height is 1.07
cm and 1.53 cm, respectively, for the displacements where the vertical component is at its lowest and
the horizontal component is at its lowest (2 cm L), as well as for the displacements where the vertical
component is at its highest (10 cm U) and its lowest (2 cm L).