BUOYANCY, FLOATATION AND STABILITY

ARCHIMEDES’ PRINCIPLE

When a stationary body is completely submerged in a fluid, or floating so that it is

only partially submerged, the resultant fluid force acting on the body is called the
buoyant force.

Note that the forces F1, F2, F3, and F4 are simply the forces exerted on the plane
surfaces, W(=mg) is the weight of the shaded fluid volume, and FB is the force the
body is exerting on the fluid.

The forces on the vertical surfaces, such as F3 and F4, are all equal and cancel, so
the equilibrium equation of interest is in the z direction and can be expressed as
FB = F2 - F1 - mg

If the specific weight of the fluid is constant, then ;

1
 F2 - F1 = rg (h2 - h1 ) A (1)

where A is the horizontal area of the upper (or lower) surface, and Equation (1)
can be written as ;
FB = rg (h2 - h1 ) A - rg [(h2 - h1 ) A - V ]

Simplifying, we arrive at the desired expression for the buoyant force ;

FB = rgV

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Figure 1

3
Archimedes' principle states that the buoyant force has a magnitude equal to the
weight of the fluid displaced by the body and is directed vertically upward.

Thus, we conclude that the buoyant force passes through the centroid of the
displaced volume as shown in Figure 1(c).

The point through which the buoyant force acts is called the center of buoyancy.

4
Example

A spherical buoy has a diameter of 1.5 m, weighs 8.50 kN, and is anchored to the
seafloor with a cable as is shown in Figure 2(a). Although the buoy normally floats
on the surface, at certain times the water depth increases so that the buoy is
completely immersed as illustrated. For this condition what is the tension of the
cable?

5
Figure 2

6
Force in equilibrium:

𝑇 + 𝑊 = 𝐹!

𝑇 = 𝐹! − 𝑊

𝜋𝐷 "
𝐹! = 𝜌𝑔∀= (1025)(9.81) f j = 17.77 𝑘𝑁
6

𝑇 = 17.77 − 8.5 = 9.27 𝑘𝑁

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STABILITY

As illustrated by the Figure 3, a body is said to be in a stable equilibrium position if,

when displaced, it returns to its equilibrium position.

Conversely, it is in an unstable equilibrium position if, when displaced (even

slightly), it moves to a new equilibrium position.

Stability considerations are particularly important for submerged or floating

bodies since the centers of buoyancy and gravity do not necessarily coincide.

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Figure 3

9
A small rotation can result in either a restoring or overturning couple.

For example, for the completely submerged body shown in Figure 4, which has a
center of gravity below the center of buoyancy, a rotation from its equilibrium
position will create a restoring couple formed by the weight, W, and the buoyant
force, FB, which causes the body to rotate back to its original position. Thus, for this
configuration the body is stable. It is to be noted that as long as the center of gravity
falls below the center of buoyancy, this will always be true; that is, the body is in a
stable equilibrium position with respect to small rotations.

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Figure 4

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However, as is illustrated in Figure 5, if the center of gravity of the completely
submerged body is above the center of buoyancy, the resulting couple formed by
the weight and the buoyant force will cause the body to overturn and move to a
new equilibrium position.

Thus, a completely submerged body with its center of gravity above its center of
buoyancy is in an unstable equilibrium position.

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Figure 5

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For floating bodies the stability problem is more complicated, since as the body
rotates the location of the center of buoyancy (which passes through the centroid
of the displaced volume) may change.

As is shown in Figure 6, a floating body such as a barge that rides low in the water
can be stable even though the center of gravity lies above the center of buoyancy.

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.

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Figure 6

15
However, for the relatively tall, slender body shown in Figure 7, a small rotational
displacement can cause the buoyant force and the weight to form an overturning
couple as illustrated.

Figure 7

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STABILITY OF A SUBMERGED BODY

For a body totally immersed in a fluid, the weight 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔 acts through the center
of gravity, 𝐺 , of the body. While the force of buoyancy, 𝐹! acts through the
centroid of the body 𝐵, which is the center of buoyancy.

If the center of gravity, 𝐺, is below the center of buoyancy, 𝐵, this will be a righting
moment and the body will tend to return to its equilibrium position. The body is
stable.

If the center of gravity, 𝐺, is above the center of buoyancy, an overturning moment

is produced, and the body is unstable.

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Figure 8

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STABILITY OF FLOATING BODIES

Figure 9(a) shows a body floating in equilibrium. The weight, 𝑊, acts through the
center of gravity, 𝐺 , and the force of buoyancy 𝐹! acts through the center of
buoyancy, 𝐵, of the displaced fluid in the same straight line as weight.

When the body is displaced through an angle 𝜃 , as shown in Figure 9(b), 𝑊

continues to act through 𝐺. The volume of liquid remains unchanged, but the shape
of this volume changes and its center of buoyancy moves relative to the body from
𝐵 to 𝐵# .

Since the force of buoyancy, 𝐹! and weight, 𝑊, are no longer in the same straight
line, a turning moment is produced.

Figure 9(b) shows the righting moment.

Figure 9(d) shows the overturning moment.

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Point 𝑀 is the point at which the line of action of the force of buoyancy, 𝐹! , cuts
the original vertical line through the center of gravity, 𝐺.

The point 𝑀 is called the metacenter.

The distance 𝐺𝑀 is the metacentric height.

From Figure 9(b) and (d), it can be seen that ;

1. If point 𝑀 lies above 𝐺, a righting moment is produced, equilibrium is stable

and 𝐺𝑀 is regarded as positive.

2. If point 𝑀 lies below 𝐺, an overturning moment is produced, equilibrium is

unstable and 𝐺𝑀 is regarded as negative.

3. If point 𝑀 coincides with 𝐺 , the body is in neutral equilibrium (stable

equilibrium).

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Figure 9

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Determination of the position of the metacenter relative to the center of buoyancy.

The distance BM is determine as ;

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 𝐼
𝐵𝑀 =
∀

𝐵𝑀 = 𝐵𝐺 + 𝐺𝑀

𝐼
𝐺𝑀 = − 𝐵𝐺
∀

The distance 𝐵𝑀 is known as the metacentric radius.

𝐼 is second moment of area.

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Example 1

A river barge, whose cross section is approximately rectangular, carries a load of

grain. The barge is 9-m wide and 30-m long. When unloaded its draft (depth of
submergence) is 3-m, and with the load of grain the draft is 4-m. Determine :
(a) The unloaded weight of the barge
(b) The weight of the grain

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Example 2

Figure 8
The homogeneous wooden block A of Figure 8 is 0.7-m by 0.7-m by 1.3-m and
weighs 2.4 kN. The concrete block B (specific weight = 23.6 kN/m3) is suspended
from A by means of the slender cable causing A to float in the position indicated.
Determine the volume of B.

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Example 3

40 kg 25 kg

Figure 9

As shown in Figure 9, an irregularly shaped object weighs 40 kg in air and 25 kg

when fully submerged in water. Determine the volume and specific gravity of the
object.

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Example 4

A plate of negligible weight closes a 0.3-m-diameter hole in a tank containing air

and water as shown in Figure 10. A block of concrete (specific weight = 15000
N/m3), having a volume of 0.5-m3, is suspended from the plate and is completely
immersed in the water. As the air pressure is increased the differential reading, Δh,
on the inclined-tube mercury manometer increases. Determine Δh just before the
plate starts to lift off the hole. The weight of the air has a negligible effect on the
manometer reading.

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Diameter = 0.3 m

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Example 5

When a hydrometer in Figure 11 having a stem

diameter of 1-cm is placed in water, the stem
protrudes 80-cm above the water surface. If the
water is replaced with a liquid having a specific
gravity of 1.10, how much of the stem would
protrude above the liquid surface? The
hydrometer weighs 20 grams.

Figure 11

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QUESTION 1

a) Terangkan prinsip Archimedes

b) Sebuah silinder A dengan ketinggian 1.2m dan diameter 2.4m, terendam di
dalam air laut (ρ=1025kg/m3) lalu menyesarkan 1050 kg air laut, seperti yang
ditunjukkan pada Rajah 1. Kemudian kiub B yang mempunyai sisi-sisi yang sama
panjang, seberat 3.5kN, diletakkan ditengah-tengah silinder tersebut dan
kedalaman silinder A bertambah. Pusat gravity keseluruhan system bertambah
0.3m dari pusat gravity silinder A sebelum kiub B diletakkan. Tentukan
(i) Kestabilan system
(ii) Isipadu kiub B

!"! %&"
Diberi Icc bulatan ialah dan Icc segiempat ialah
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Rajah 1
QUESTION 2

Berat sebuah silinder berongga ialah 0.05N. Apabila sebatang bahan X dengan
isipada (0.038m x 0.038m x 0.6m) diletekkan di dalamnya, silinder berongga itu
akan tenggelam di dalam air dengan ketinggian H, seperti yang ditunjukkan dalam
Rajah 2. Oleh kerana bahan X adalah berkali ganda lebih berat daripada silinder
berongga (Wbahan X >> Wsilinder), pusat gravity system (silinder berongga dan bahan
X) adalah 0.35m dari dasar permukaan tenggelam. Tentukan berat tentu bahan X,
jika keseluruhan system terapung pada keseimbangan neutral pada paksi tegaknya.
Rajah 2
QUESTION 3

A uniform wooden cylinder of diameter, 𝐷 and length, 𝐿 has a relative density,

𝑠 = 0.6. It floats upright in water. Show that the ratio of diameter, 𝐷 with length,
𝐿 (i.e. 𝐷/𝐿) equals to √8𝑠 − 8𝑠 ( so that the cylinder just floats upright in water.
Calculate 𝐷/𝐿.
QUESTION 4

a) What is buoyant force? Are the buoyant forces acting on a submerged 7cm in
diameter spherical ball made of aluminum and a submerged spherical ball made
of iron the same? Explain your answer.
b) A hollow wooden cylinder of specific gravity, SG=0.55 as shown in Figure 4
has outside diameter, d0 of 0.6m, inner diameter, di of 0.3m and has its end open.
The cylinder is required to float in oil of specific gravity, SG=0.84. Calculate the
maximum height, hmax of the cylinder so that it shall be stable when floating
with its axis vertical.
c) If the cylinder as in question 4(b), with the same height but its upper end is
closed, what will happen to its stability if the cylinder is inserted in the oil
vertically? Give your reason.
Figure 4