EXPERIMENT NO.

8
STATICAL STABILITY OF FLOATING BODIES
I.

BACKGROUND
For stability of a submerged body, the center of gravity of the body must lie
directly below the center of buoyancy of the displaced liquid. Should the two
points coincide, the submerged body is neutral for all positions.

II.

OBJECTIVES
After the performance of the experiment, the student should be able:
1. To determine the metacentric height of a body;
2. To determine the metacenter of a body;
3. To develop professional work ethics including precision, neatness, safety
and ability to follow instructions.

III.
APPARATUS / MATERIALS
Metacentric height Apparatus
Pan

IV.

PROCEDURE
1.
2.
3.
4.

Set up the apparatus

Measure the dimension of the rectangular block
Fill the pan with water
Place the block in the water. Level in unstable position and measure the
height of the submerged portion of the block and level it as d.
5. Using the principle of stability of floating bodies, compute for MBo, GBo
and MG.

V.

DATA

Trial

MBo

GBo

MG

1
2
3

VI.

COMPUTATION
MBO = I / V
MG = MBO +GBO
where:
I = moment of inertia = wL3/ 12
MG = metacentric height
MBO = distance from the metacenter to center of buoyancy
GBO = distance from the center of gravity of the body to center of
buoyancy

FIGURE 7.1 METACENTRIC HEIGHT APPARATUS

VII.

DOCUMENTATION

VIII.

OBSERVATION

IX.

CONCLUSION

Experiment No. 8
Stability of Floating Bodies
Objective:

The activity aims to determine the metacenter of a body floating on fluids and develop
professional work ethics including precision, neatness, safety and ability to follow instructions.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

The students shall be able to:
1. Use the techniques and skills in fluid mechanics to understand the concept of floating bodies.
2. Apply the techniques and skills acquired relevant to professional engineering practice.
Discussion:
An experimental verification of the theory presented in the textbook. The center of the buoyancy (C, the
centroid of the displaced volume of the fluid) of a floating body on the shape of the body and on the position
in which it is floating. If the body is disturbed by a small angle heel, the center of the buoyancy force
changes because the shape of the submerged volume is changed. The point of intersection of the lines of
action of the buoyancy force before and after heel is called metacenter (M) and the distance between the
center of gravity (G) and M, is called the metacentric height (GM see fig. 1).

Fig. 7 Metacentric height of a floating body

31
The expression for the metacentric height GM is
GM =

Where

I oo

I oo
CG
V

is the moment of inertia of the waterline area about the axis of disturbance, and V is the

volume of the displaced liquid. For stability, the metacentric height GM must be positive. Stability (restoring
force) increase with increasing GM.
Resources/Instruments Required:
Metacentric Apparatus
Pan
Set of weights
Procedure:
1. Determine the dimensions of the pan.
2. Place the pan on an open tank filled with water.
3. Measure the depth of the pan submerged into the water.
4. Using the formula given above, determine the metacentric height.
5. Repeat the experiment by applying weights to the pan.

32
Group No.:
Date Performed:
Group Members:

Section:
Date Submitted:
Instructor:

Data and Results:

Trial
1
2
3

Figure

Conclusion:

MBo

GBo

MG

33
Assessment: (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):
CRITERIA

BEGINNER
1

ACCEPTABLE
2

PROFICIENT
3

Laboratory Skills
Manipulative
Skills

Members do not demonstrate

needed skills.

Members occasionally demonstrate

needed skills.

Members always demonstrate

needed skills.

Experimental
Set-up

Members are unable to set-up the

materials.

Members are able to set-up the

materials with supervision.

Members are able to set-up the

materials with minimum supervision.

Process Skills

Members do not demonstrate

targeted process skills.

Members occasionally demonstrate

targeted process skills.

Members always demonstrate

targeted process skills.

Safety
Precautions

Members do not follow safety

precautions.

Members follow safety precautions

most of the time.

Members follow safety precautions all

the time.

Members do not finish on time with

incomplete data.

Members finish on time with

incomplete data.

Members finish ahead of time with

complete data and time to revise
data.

Cooperative
and Teamwork

Members do not know their tasks

and have no defined
responsibilities. Group conflicts
have to be settled by the teacher.

Members have defined

responsibilities most of the time.
Group conflicts are cooperatively
managed most of the time.

Members are on tasks and have

defined responsibilities at all times.
Group conflicts are cooperatively
managed at all times.

Neatness and
Orderliness

Messy workplace during and after

the experiment.

Clean and orderly workplace with

occasional mess during and after
the experiment.

Clean and orderly workplace at all

times during and after the
experiment.

Ability to do
independent
work

Members require supervision by the

teacher.

Members require occasional

supervision by the teacher.

Members do not need to be

supervised by the teacher.

Work Habits
Time
Management/
Conduct of
Experiment

Other Comments / Observations:

TOTAL SCORE

SCORE

RATING =
100%

(Total Score)
24