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To determine the Metacentric height of a floating body(i.e. a model of ship) and to locate
the position f center of Buoyancy, Matacenter and Center of Gravity.




Metacentric Height Apparatus, hydraulic bench, meter ruler.




Metacentre: It is defined as the point about which a body starts oscillating when it is tilted
by a small angle. The metacentre may also defined as the point at which line of action of
the point of buoyancy will meet the normal axis of the body when the body is given a small
angular displacement.

Metacentric height: the distance between the metacentre of a floating body and the centre
of gravity of the body is called metacentric height.

Radius of gyration: It is defined as the distance of the centre of gravity of the body from a
reference axis.

For a body to be equilibrium W= Fb and both weight of the body(W) and the buoyant
force(Fb) are acting along the same vertical line. When a body is tilted through a small
angle Ĭ (known as angle of heel) by two movable weights placed across the deck the centre
of buoyancy shifts from B to B1 to the right and there is a parallel shift of the total centre of
gravity of the body, i.e. centre of gravity of the body including movable weights. If a vertical
line is drawn through the new position of the buoyant force ie through point B1, it will
intersect the initial line of action of buoyant force through point B at point M. The point M is
the metacentre and the distance GM,metacentric height. The metacentric height gives a
measure of stability for a floating body.
The metacentric height is obtained by equating the moment due to movement of movable
weights and the moment due to shifting of G to G1 and is given by the following
expression.s w1x-w2x2
We will use
GM= Mass - ¨x / Weight * tan Ĭ

Where w1 and w2 are the movable weights and x1 & x2 are their respective distances from
the centre of the cross bar. W is the total weight of the floating body including the movable
weights, Ĭ is the angle of tilt.

  


1. Place the model of ship in the water tank.
2. Shift the jockey weight to zero position and note the corresponding angle of rotation.
3. If it is on zero then its correct if not then notes the error and its direction.
4. Now shift the jockey weight to either left or right side by 10cm. Note the angle against
that reading.
5. Similarly shift the jockey weight to 20cm, 30cm, 40cm, 50cm and 60cm and note the
corresponding value of angle.
6. Similarly, move the jockey weight to the other side and take same points readings.
7. Take mean of left and right angle and make a table of it.




Trial R ĬR L ĬL Mean Ĭ L MG R MG Mean
MG
1 10 2.1 10 2.1 2.1 5.68 5.68 5.68
2 20 4.1 20 4.2 4.05 2.91 2.84 2.88
3 30 6.2 30 6.4 6.3 1.89 1.86 1.88
4 40 8.2 40 8.3 8.25 1.44 1.41 1.42
5 50 10.2 50 10.1 10.15 1.16 1.15 1.15
6 60 12.2 60 12.3 12.25 0.95 0.96 0.96

Sample of calculation:

MG= m * ¨x / M * tan Ĭ
Where:
m=305.54g
M=1466.36g
¨x= 1cm

MG= 305.54 * 1 / 1466.36 * tan (2.1) = 5.68 cm

 

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The application of force of Buoyancy is applied on submarines. Water is filled in containers

and weight becomes greater than force of buoyancy and submarine sinks. Now, whenever
there is a need to get upwards the containers get empty and force of buoyancy become
greater than weight.