MCA 1

Q1. How Much is load on an immersed Plane?

A. It is ρ(rho).g. x 1st moment of area w.r.t.

surface.

MCA 2
Q2. What is location of C.O.P. of an immersed
plane?

A. From Surface, it is
 

MCA 3
Q3. What is location of CoP from surface of
Rectangle?

A. 2/3 d

MCA 4
Q4. What is location of CoP from surface of
Inverted Triangle?

A. 1/2 d

MCA 5
Q5. What is location of CoP from surface of
Circle?

A. 5/8 d

MCA 6
Q6. What is theorem of parallel Axes?

A. Ioo = INA + AH2

MCA 7
Q7. If a load diagram is given, how to find
C.O.P.?

A. Centroid of load diagram is centre of

pressure.

MCA 8
Q8. What is the position of Maximum Bending
Moment?

A. It is position of Zero Shear.

MCA 9
Q9. If a floating body has density of 0.9, how
much of its volume will be submerged if it
floats in a liquid of relative density 1.0?

A. 90% will be submerged.

MCA 10
Q10. What is the relationship between mass of
a ship and displacement of the ship?

A. Displacement of a ship is actually its mass.

Mass of a large ship can not be measured
directly by conventional means like a
weighing balance, it is found by calculating
displacement of the ship.

MCA 11
Q11. What is the difference between mass and
weight?

A. Mass multiplied by gravitational acceleration

gives weight.

MCA 12
Q12. What is the difference between units of
mass & weight?

A. Unit of Mass is Gram, Kilogram or Ton.

Unit of Weight is Newton or Kilo Newton, i.e.
same as units of force.

MCA 13
Q13. What is the relationship between
displacement and Buoyancy?

A. (Displacement x g) is equal to Buoyancy.

MCA 14
Q14. Is displacement equal to Buoyancy under
all circumstances or do any conditions apply?

A. Condition is that, ship should be floating

freely.

MCA 15
Q15. Where does force of buoyancy act?

A. It acts at centre of buoyancy.

MCA 16
Q16. Where is centre of buoyancy located?

A. It is centre of gravity of the underwater

volume of ship.

MCA 17
Q17. Is it possible that centre of gravity of
underwater volume of the ship is also the
centre of gravity of the (complete) ship?
Explain.
A. Yes. It is possible, and then the ship is in
state of Neutral equilibrium.

MCA 18
Q18. Is it possible to calculate the correct
position of centre of buoyancy of the ship
before the ship is built?

A. Yes. It can be found out by using value from

the displacement curve, or by using
Morrishe’s formula.

MCA 19
Q19. Is it possible to find out correct position
of centre of gravity before the ship is built?

A. No. Correct position can be found out only

after the ship is built by carrying out the
Inclining Experiment.

MCA 20
Q20. Is TPC immersion a constant for a ship?

A. No. It varies with water plane area at

different draughts.

MCA 21
Q21. Can TPC immersion be a constant for
ship?

A. Yes. Provided the WPA does not change with

draught e.g. a box barge (or any wall sided
vessel).

MCA 22
Q22. In the Draught vs TPC curve – draught is shown on
Y-axis and TPC is shown on X-axis. To find the
displacement -area between curve and Y-axis is taken.
Why the area between curve and X-axis is not taken?

A. Draught is actually the X-axis and TPC(which is a

function of draught) is Y-axis. Draught is shown to be
the Y-axis because this way the curve looks like the
cross section of ship, there by mentally easy to relate
to.
It is for this reason that area under the curve is taken
as area between the curve and Y-axis.
Draught is the primary variable to be considered
shown on Y-axis – whereas TPC – which is a function
of draught - is to be considered shown on Y-axis.

MCA 23
Q23. What is the purpose of Coefficients of
Form?

A. Coefficients of Form show the relationship

between forms of a ship and dimensions of a
ship.

MCA 24
Q. Why is it that ships roll more than they
pitch?

A. 2nd moments of area is much more with

respect to Athwart ship axis than it is with
respect to mid ships, that is why pitching
w.r.t. mid ships is much less compared to
rolling w.r.t. centre line.
2nd moment is indicator of resistance to
motion. Higher the 2nd moment, lesser the
motion.

MCA 25
Q25. If a mass is added to a ship, to which
direction would C.G. shift?

A. It would shift towards the mass.

MCA 26
Q26. If a mass is removed from a ship, to
which direction would C.G. shift?

A. It would move away from the mass.

MCA 27
Q27. If a mass is shifted on ship,to which side
would C.G. shift?

A. It would shift in life in the same direction as

mass.

MCA 28
Q28. One ship is having its own cranes and
derricks to discharge cargo. Another ship
depends upon shore cranes to discharge cargo.
Which ship would require higher standards of
stability?
(i.e. lower C.G. and higher G.M)
A. The ship that has its own cranes and
derricks would require higher standard of
stability.

MCA 29
Q29. What does the term statical stability
indicate?

A. It indicates the ships ability to return to

upright after removal of the external force—
if inclined by an external force.

MCA 30
Q30. When can the ship be assumed to be
stationary and upright?

A. Only time is before launching and when in

dry-docks.

MCA 31
Q31. In terms of G.M.—when is ship stable?

A. It is stable when G.M. is positive.

MCA 32
Q32. What is a stiff a ship?

A. When GM is too large and rolling period is

much less than 20 seconds, ship is said to be
stiff.

MCA 33
Q33. What are the problems with a stiff ship?

A. It leads to:- (1) higher structural stresses (2)

discomfort to the crew.

MCA 34
Q34. What is a tender ship?

A. When G.M. is too small and rolling period is

much more than 20 seconds, ship is said to
be tender.

MCA 35
Q35. What are the problems with a tender
ship?

A. (1) It may require unacceptable time delays

on various Liquid Level Alarms
(2) It will also roll very easily and under
extreme circumstance may capsize.
(3) Cargo lashings etc. to be.

MCA 36
Q36. If an external force (e.g. wave or wind)
inclines the ship, how much is the shift in
center of gravity?

A. There is no shift in center of gravity.

MCA 37
Q37. If the ship is inclined by an external
farce, will the center of buoyancy shift?

A. Yes, it will shift in the same direction, in

which the ship is inclining.

MCA 38
Q38. If the ship is inclined because of shift in
center of gravity, will the center of buoyancy
shift?

A. Yes, it will shift in the same direction in

which the ship is inclining and position itself
directly below the center of gravity.

MCA 39
Q39. When is a ship considered to be unstable?

A. When GZ = negative or GM = negative or

center of gravity is above the transverse
meta center, then ship is considered to be
unstable.

MCA 40
Q40. When is a ship considered to be in neutral
equilibrium?

A. When GZ = 0, or GM = 0, or Centre of Gravity

coincides with transverse metacentre (i.e.
K.G = KM), the ship is considered to be in
neutral equilibrium.

MCA 41
Q41. If you have a choice of calling a ship
either stable or unstable, what would you call a
neutral ship?

A. A neutral ship should be called an unstable,

because with the slightest upward shift of KG
or down ward shift of KM, it becomes
unstable.

MCA 42
Q42. Is a listed ship an example of a ship in
neutral equilibrium?

A. No. A listed ship can still be stable, rolling

about its current listed position.

MCA 43
Q43. What is the other name for angle of list?

A. It is called Angle of Loll.

MCA 44
Q44. In the formula GZ = GM sin , what are
the assumptions made?

A. There is only one assumption made. It is

that the old vertical through old centre of
buoyancy, intersects the new vertical
through new centre of buoyancy at the
centre line. This is considered possible only
at small angles of heel. So the heel is
assumed to be small, i.e. less than 10
degrees.

MCA 45
Q45. For a box barge, what is the value of KM
when draught is Zero?

A. When draught is equal to Zero, then for a

box barge KM =infinity

MCA 46
Q46. For a triangular section barge, what is the
value of KM when drought is Zero?

A. In this case KM = 0

MCA 47
Q47. What is effect of KM, being zero or
infinity, on stability?

A. If KM =infinity , vessel is highly stable. If

KM = 0, vessel is unstable and, probably,
already capsized.

MCA 48
Q48. Is it possible to calculate the stability of a
ship before it is built?

A. Yes. Ship’s drawing are used to find out KB

& BM. BM is equal to I/V. KG is assumed at a
suitable place. Correct value of KG is
calculated after the ship is built and
inclining experiment carried out.
Corrections are then made in previously
calculated values.

MCA 49
Q49. What precautions are taken to ensure that
minimum or no errors find place in inclining
experiment.
A. (1)At least two pendulums are used, one Fwd & one Aft.
(2) Pendulums are kept as LONG as practicable e.g. Bridge to main
deck or main deck to tank top.
(3)To dampen the swing – pendulum is immersed in water or light oil.
(4)Mooring ropes are slackened.
(5)Ship to shore gangway is removed.
(6)The draught’s and density of water are recorded as accurately as
possible
(7)The ship is kept in a sheltered position e.g. a graving dock.
(8)Experiment is carried out in calm weather
(9)All unnecessary personnel are removed from ship.
(10)People on ship are not allowed to move while experiment is in
progress.
(11)All liquid tanks are either kept empty or pressed up tight, to
nullify free surface effect.The magnitude and position of any mass
which is not part of light weight of the ship, is noted to make
corrections later. For this, all tanks are sounded and whole ship is
inspected. MCA 50
Q50. How many masses are used for inclining
experiment?

A. 4 masses are used – 2 on port side and 2 on

starboard side (A,B,C & D.)

MCA 51
Q51. How are the masses moved?

A. Initially A & B are on port side, C & D are on

starboard side, First A is moved to STBD,
then B to STBD, then A to port, then B to
port, then C to port, then D to port, then A
to STBD, then B to STBD, thus 8 reading are
taken.

MCA 52
Q52. How are these readings recorded for
posterity?

A. These reading are recorded by means of

stabilograph, which not only records the
extent of deflection but also records if
deflections have been smooth.

MCA 53
Q53. If a tank is holding some kind of liquid,
will it have free surface effect?

A. Yes, if tank is not full.

No, If it is pressed up tight into the sounding
pipe.

MCA 54
Q54. When will the free surface effect be more -
when the tank 1/3rd full or when it is 2/3rd
full?

A. In both cases it will be equal.

MCA 55
Q55. How much is a large angle, with reference
to stability?

A. An angle can be called large if it is greater

than 10 degrees.

MCA 56
Q56. While plotting cross curves of stability
what is the maximum angle of heel?

A. It is 90o.

MCA 57
Q57. W.r.t. Q.2 – is it possible to heel a ship up
to 90o?

A. No. But Cross Curves of Stability are drawn

before ship is built. It is the drawing, which
is heeled.

MCA 58
Q58. How many degree is one radian?

A. 57.3o.

MCA 59
Q59. What is Dynamical stability?

A. Work done to heel the ship to any angle is

Dynamical stability of the ship up to that
angle of heel.

MCA 60
Q60. What is the significance of Dynamical
stability?

A. If Dynamical stability is large, then only

large waves, or strong winds can heel the
ship. Other wise in mild rough weather also,
the ship would begin to roll.
 

MCA 61
Q61. Is it possible that two ships have same
metacentric height (GM), yet there range of
stability is different?

A. Yes, Range of stability also depends upon

free board. A ship with smaller free board.
E.g. tanker will have a smaller range of
stability compared to a ship with larger
freeboard.

MCA 62
Q62. What is the relationship between curve of
statical stability and metacetric height (G.M)

A. In the curve of statical stability, if a line is

erected vertically at the position of one
radian (57.3 degrees ) whose height is equal
to GM; and top of the line is connected to
position 0,0 by a straight line, then slope of
this line is along the initial slope of the
curve of statical stability.

MCA 63
Q63. What is Angle of Vanishing Stability?

A. It is the angle of heel, beyond which the ship

would capsize, if listed.

MCA 64
Q64. What is the relationship between
freeboard and angle of vanishing stability?

A. If freeboard is large then angle of vanishing

stability is large. When ship is listed to angle
of vanishing stability, at that time weather
deck edge touches the water surface.

MCA 65
Q65. Is it possible that a ship has a negative
GM and yet does not capsize?

A. Yes, If a ship has a negative GM, it may

become stable at a listed position instead of
capsizing.
Whether the ship will capsize or not, will
depend upon the shape of curve of statical
stability. If the curve is going in the
positive range of GZ at any angle of heel,
then ship would not capsize but list to the
angle at which G.Z. crosses into positive
range.

MCA 66
Q66. Which G.M. is likely to have a higher
value – transverse G.M. or longitudinal G.M.

A. Longitudinal G.M. (GML) is likely to have a

higher value.

MCA 67
Q67. If ship is loaded down to S line on Free
Board marking, in seawater and then towed to
river water, will it sink down to F line on free
board marking?
A. It will happen only if sea water density is
1.025 and river water density is 1.000 .

MCA 68
Q68. How much is permeability of an empty
compartment?

A. 100 percent.

MCA 69
Q69. In the formula f=0.417+0.773/( L+2.862 );
what assumptions have been made?

A. It is assumed that hull material is M.S. & in

S.W.

MCA 70
Q70. What is the concept of nautical mile?

A. A nautical mile is the distance on sea level,

which subtends an angle of 1 minute (i.e.
1/60 degrees) on the centre of the earth.

MCA 71
Q71. With the changes in sea level does it
change?

A. Because of this reason, nautical mile has

been standardized as international Nautical
Mile (INm) which is equal to 1852 meters.

MCA 72
Q72. What is the origin of term- Knot?

A. In early days boat speeds used to be

determined by letting the ship sail along side
a rope which used to be knotted with
coloured pieces of cloth (knots) the distance
between the knots being 1 nautical mile.
This is how the term knot came into use.

MCA 73
Q73. If two ships are moving at same speed are
they equally fast (or slow)?

A. Not necessarily. It also depends upon their

length. Shorter ship is faster and longer ship
is slower.

MCA 74
Q74. Can frictional resistance be calculated
without constructing the ship or its model?

A. Yes.

MCA 75
Q75. Can residuary resistance be calculated
without constructing the ship or model?

A. No. At least a model has to be made.

MCA 76
Q76. What is the material of the model?

A. Wax.

MCA 77
Q77. What is Ship Correlation Factor?

A. Wax model of ship is not fitted with rudder,

propeller, bilge keel etc. S.C.F. is used to
compensate for lack of such appendages on
the model.

MCA 78
Q78. What is the significance of Admiralty
coefficient?

A. It does away with necessity of conducting

model experiments for minor variations in
displacement and speed, thereby saving the
cost of conducting such experiments, every
time a ship of same design but SLIGHTLY
varied dimensions is built.

MCA 79
Q79. If a ship sails out and it is realised that
there is not sufficient fuel on board to
complete the voyage, can the voyage be
completed without taking bunkers?

A. Yes, ship speed can be suitably reduced and

voyage can still be completed.

MCA 80
Q80. If the ship speed is zero, how will it affect
Propeller Thrust?

A. If the ship speed is zero, thrust too will be

zero .

MCA 81
Q81. If the ship meets a head wind, how will it
affect outlet temperature of thrust block
lubricating oil? Explain briefly.

A. Thrust block Lub. Oil outlet temperature will

increase, because pressure on thrust collars
will increase.

MCA 82
Q82. Is it possible for hull efficiency to be
more than 100%?

A. Yes. Hull efficiency can be less than, equal

to or more than 100% depending upon the
shape of the ship.

MCA 83
Q83. Is cavitation more likely to occur in
tropical seas or more likely in subtropical and
polar regions?

A. It is more likely to occur in tropical seas,

because of higher sea water temperatures.

MCA 84
Q84. Is cavitation more likely to occur in
loaded ship or in ballast condition?

A. It is more likely in ballast condition.

 

MCA 85
Q85. Is cavitation more likely to occur at
higher propeller rpms , or lower?

A. It is more likely at higher rpms.

MCA 86
Q86. Is a faster ship likely to have a larger area
of rudder , or a slower ship?

A. A faster ship is likely to have a large rudder

area.

MCA 87
Q87. What are the classification society
specification for area of the rudder?

A. There are no such specifications.

MCA 88
Q88. What is the difference between balanced
rudder and semi-balanced rudder?

A. Balanced rudder is balanced at a particular

angle only. At other angles, it is semi-
balanced.
Semi-balanced rudder is semi-balanced at all
angles.

MCA 89
Q89. Why is rudder angle usually limited to
350?

A. Because the radius of turning circle does

not reduce beyond 35 degree of rudder angle.
It may actually increase.

MCA 90
Q90. If a ship is turning to port side, which
side would it heel ?

A. It depends upon the position of centre of

gravity (C.G.) with respect to Centre of
Lateral Resistance (L).
Usually the C.G. is higher than L and in such
a case, ship would heel to star board when
turning to port.
If C.G. is lower than (L) then ship would heel
to port while turning to port.

MCA 91
Q91. Single plate rudder would have a lesser
drag if pulled through water, compared to a
double plate rudder because of its simple shape
and also slightly lower surface area. So why is
it that double plate rudders are used for reduce
drag?
A. Double plate rudders would have a higher
drag when rudder alone is pulled through
water ; but when filled behind a ship with a
hull stream lined along with the rudder,
there would be a overall reduced drag
because of reduced eddy current losses.
Single plate rudder fitted behind a hull gives
very high eddy current losses when the ship
is in motion. Overall drag is sum of
Frictional Losses + Eddy Current Losses
MCA 92
Q92. What is the difference between Real slip
and Apparent slip?

A. Real slip is with reference to the water

which is close to the ship, and is affected by
the movement of the ship.
Apparent slip is with respect to the ground
speed of the ship or it can also be said to be
with respect to water away from the ship,
water which is not affected by ship’s
movement – if ship is moving in still waters.

MCA 93
Q93. In Naval Architecture, sometimes it is
said that a tank is 5 m long and 10 m wide.
Why it is not said that the tank is 10m long
and 5 m wide ?
A. It is said so when 5m is along the length of
the ship and 10m is along the beam of the
ship.

MCA 94
Q94. Who devised the rule known as Simpson’s
rule?

A. Simpson’s Rule was originally devised by

Isaac Newton.

MCA 95
Q95. What is the assumption made for Simpson
First rule? ( 1-4-1 rule)

A. It assumes that boundary curve is parabola.

MCA 96
Q96. What is the assumption made for
Simpson’s Second rule (1-3-3-1 rule)?

A. It assumes that boundary curve is parabola

of the third order.

MCA 97
Q97. What is the connection between
Simpson’s First Rule and Simpson’s Third (5+8-
1) rule?

A. The first rule can be derived from the third

rule.

MCA 98
Q98. If area and ordinates are such that no rule
can be applied straightway to calculate the
area – then how can area be calculated?

A. In that case more than one rule can be

combined to calculate the area.

MCA 99
Q99. What is the difference between
Tchebycheff’s rule and Simpson’s rule?

A. In Simpson’s rule ordinate are equi-

spaced.It is not so in Tchebycheff’s rule.
   In Simpson’s rule, internal
multipliers are used on the ordinate before
adding the ordinates.
In Tchebycheff’s rules, ordinates are
directly added.

MCA 100
Q100. How is spacing of ordinate chosen in
Tchebycheff’s rules?

A. Spacing is such that average of the

measured ordinates is mean ordinates of the
figure.

MCA 101