Buoyancy And Flotation

Archimedes Principle

When a body is completely submerged in a fluid, or floating so that it is only partially submerged, then the resultant upward force acting on the body is called BUOYANCY FORCE which is equal to the weight of liquid displaced by the body.

The line of action of the buoyant force passes through the centroid of the displaced volume. The centroid is called the Center of buoyancy.

Archimedes Second Principle

A floating body displaces a volume of fluid equivalent to its own weight.

A body will float if its average density is less than the density of the fluid in which it is placed

Condition for Equilibrium for Floating Body

Metacentre : is defined as the point about which body starts oscillating when body is titled by small angle. 

It can also be defined as the point at which the line of action of buoyancy force will meet the normal axis to the body when body is titled by small angle. 

• A floating body will be in Stable Equilibrium if M is above G or GM is positive.
• Unstable Equilibrium if M is below G or GM is negative. 
• Neutral Equilibrium if M = G.

Time Period of Oscillation

If a floating body oscillates the is time period is given by

Where, 

k = Least radius of gyration

h = meta-centric height (GM)

g = gravity