Experiment No.

: 3

Name: Rianne Marie D. Jusain

Section: A341

Experiment Title: Stability of Floating Body: Metacentric Height

Objectives:
• To locate the center of gravity of the floating body used.
• To determine the metacentric height of the floating body.
• To evaluate the stability of the floating body when tilted to a certain angle.

Materials & Equipment:

• Hydraulics Bench (Edibon FME 00)
• Metacentric Height Demonstration Unit (Edibon FME 11)
• Ruler
• Digital balance scale

Theoretical Basis:

The metacenter, denoted as M, is the point where the original

vertical through the center of gravity (denoted as S) meets the new
vertical through the new center of buoyancy after a very small angle of
rotation/tilt and a displacement is produced. The distance between the
metacenter and the center of gravity is called the metacentric height.

To achieve stable equilibrium when a body is partially

submerged into the liquid, the metacenter must be above the center
of gravity. This also causes the buoyancy to restore stability when a
floating body tilts.

Three (3) conditions are considered when a stability of a floating

partially submerged body is determined:

• A floating body has achieved neutral equilibrium when the

metacentric height is equal to zero. In other words, zm = 0.
• A floating body is stable if the metacentric height is greater than
zero. That is, the metacentric height should be a positive value, or
zm > 0.
• An unstable floating of a body happens when the metacentric
height is lesser than zero, i.e., the metacentric height produces a
negative value, or zm < 0.

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The location of the center of gravity has no bearing on the location of the metacenter. It simply
depends on the displacement and shape of a portion of the floating body. Hence, this experiment has
implemented two (2) methods of determining its position.
❖ Heeling is produced by utilizing an additional weight to laterally shift the center of gravity
by a predetermined constant distance xs. The heel changes when the center of gravity
𝑑𝑥𝑠
shifts vertically even further. Then, a stability gradient derived from 𝑑𝛼
is defined. As the
vertical center of gravity location becomes closer to the metacenter, the stability gradient
is getting smaller.
❖ Given a steady heel position, it is assumed that dead weight FG and
buoyancy FA have a single course of action. The metacenter M is
determined by where this line of action intersects the central axis. The
metacentric height zm is then given by the angle of tilt α and the lateral
displacement of the center of gravity xs. It is computed by
𝑧𝑚 = 𝑥𝑠 cot 𝛼

Procedure:

A. Overall center of gravity of the metacentric height apparatus

1. Take the floating body apart, and weigh each of its components on the digital balance
scale. Record.
2. For each mass, measure and record corresponding vertical distance from reference
axis bottom of the case.
3. Using the recorded data, calculate the apparatus’ overall center of gravity. This can be
computed by the application of Varignon’s Theorem.
𝛴 𝑚𝑖 𝑧𝑖
𝛴 𝑚𝑖

B. Determining the metacentric height and stability of the metacentric height apparatus
1. Set the horizontal adjustable mass to a certain position.
2. Set the first height of the vertical adjustable mass.
3. Transfer the apparatus to the hydraulic bench. Make it float onto the water.
4. Observe how the apparatus floats. Record the angle of tilt as indicated by the plumb bob.
5. Determine the stability
6. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 by gradually increasing the height of the vertical adjustable mass while
retaining the position of the horizontal adjustable mass. Do this for a total of 6 observations.

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Gathered Data:

Table 1. Dimensions of metacentric case

COMPONENT DIMENSION (mm)

Length 340

Width 204

Height 79.5

Thickness 5

Table 2. Mass and centroid of the metacentric height apparatus’ components

COMPONENT MASS (kg) CENTROID (zi, mm)

Front, rear, and side cases 0.988 39.75

Bottom case 0.381 2.5

Ruler 1.076 72

Vertical mass 0.1752 339.5

Transverse axis 0.0934 8.35

Horizontal adjustable mass 0.3131 8.35

Plumb bob 0.0113 8.95

Vertical adjustable mass 0.2178 11.2

Table 3. Metacentric height apparatus’ angle of tilt vs. positions of horizontal and vertical
adjustable masses.

Position of horizontal adjustable mass: x = 45 mm

DESCRIPTION TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3 TRIAL 4 TRIAL 5 TRIAL 6

Height of vertical 10 15 18 20 25 30
adjustable mass from
top of case, H (cm)

Angle of tilt (degrees) 6 6.5 7.5 7.75 9 10.5

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Computation:

Handwritten Solutions

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Tabulated Data

Table 4. Computed data of metacentric height and stability

Horizontal position of center of gravity, xs = 3.721 mm

OBSERVATION HEIGHT OF Zs ANGLE METACENTRIC STABILITY STABILITY

NO. VERT. (mm) OF TILT HEIGHT (Zm, (Stable or GRADIENT
ADJUSTABLE (α, º) mm) Unstable) (mm/º)
MASS (Z, mm)

1 179.5 62.625 6 37.561 Stable 0.620

2 229.5 65.501 6.5 34.650 Stable 0.572

3 259.5 67.227 7.5 29.987 Stable 0.496

4 279.5 68.377 7.75 29.008 Stable 0.480

5 329.5 71.253 9 24.926 Stable 0.413

6 379.5 74.129 10.5 22.389 Stable 0.354

Graphical Data

Figure 1. Relationship between metacentric height and stability gradient.

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Discussion:

❖ Based on Table 3, it is observed that the set height of the vertical adjustable mass is directly
proportional to the angle of tilt produced when the apparatus is being floated.
o With the given position of the horizontal distance, it is observed that the angle of tilt
increases for every gradual increase of the height of vertical adjustable mass.
❖ Table 4 shows the computed values of metacentric heights and their stability. It is found out that,
despite the constant position of the horizontal adjustable mass, the metacentric height decreases
when the height of the vertical adjustable mass is gradually being increased.
o When the center of gravity is increased vertically (in this case, the vertical adjustable mass
is placed farther away from the reference axis), the floating body starts to lose its stability.
As a result, the metacentric height decreases as the increase of the angle of tilt causes the
floating body to shift/lean towards the heavier side.
❖ Table 4 also shows that, despite of the gradual adjustment of vertical adjustable mass, the apparatus
remained stable throughout the experiment.
o The theory states that a stability of a floating partially submerged body has achieved
stability when the metacentric height is greater than zero. The table shows that the
metacentric heights produce positive outcomes; hence, the implication of the floating
body’s stability.
❖ Figure 1 shows the relationship as to how the metacentric height of a floating body affects its stability
gradient. It is found out that the metacentric height is directly proportional to the stability gradient of
a floating body. In this case, both values are gradually decreasing.
o Note that the change of center of gravity causes the floating body to heel. As a result, the
buoyant force is becoming less than the dead load brought by the adjustable masses, and
the angle of tilt is increasing. It is also known that this circumstance decreases the
metacentric height of the floating body, making the floating body gradually lose its stability
until the floating body tumbles down
o Given about 0.997 as coefficient of determinacy, it implies that the results are accepted
and reflects with the theories presented in this laboratory experiment.

Conclusion:

This laboratory experiment demonstrates the concepts of a floating body’s stability through
determining its metacentric height. Given the results, it is found out that the metacentric height is inversely
proportional to the height of center of gravity, and it is directly proportional to the stability gradient of the
entire floating body. Furthermore, it is then concluded that a greater stability against toppling/overturning
is implied by a bigger metacentric height.

The concepts are essential for designing ships and other floating devices, as the number of applied
loads can compromise the overall stability of floating bodies. Moreover, the metacentric height used for
the designing phase strikes a balance between stability and the frequency of ships to be rolled over.

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Documentation:

Dismantling the components of the metacentric height demonstration unit.

Measuring dimensions of apparatus’ components to obtain their corresponding centroids.

Obtaining the weight of different apparatus components.

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Respective weights of apparatus components.

Photos taken during the conduct of experiment.

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