flotation and stability

Ma. Catalina Amaya G.

- A body is on floating if it is in contact only with a fluid

- A body immersed in a fluid undergoes a vertical force equal to the weight of
floating fluid dislodges
- A floating body displaces its own weight of the fluid that floats

flotation

The buoyant force not only balances the weight, it must be applied in the same
vertical line, as in the static equilibrium because there can be moment.

This is true since as the body rotates the buoyant force, FB, shifts to pass through
the centroid of the newly formed displaced volume and, as illustrated, combines with
the weight, W, to form a couple which will cause the body to return to its original
equilibrium position.

stability

- A small rotational displacement can cause the buoyant force and the weight to form
an overturning couple as illustrated.

A body that floats can be found in a statically unstable position. In this case the body
turn around to find a position that is more stable.

= MN = = MG + GN
- If MG is positive, body will be stable against perturbations.
- If N is over G,body will be stable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUgXf2Rj2YQ

stability