LA CONCEPCION COLLEGE
FLUID MECHANICS & HYDRAULICS
BUOYANCY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. RUSSELL R. LLAGAS, RCE
BUOYANCY
ARCHIMEDES PRINCIPLE
- A principle discovered by the Greek scientist Archimedes that state that " any body
immersed in a fluid is acted upon by an upward force ( buoyant force ) equal to the
weight of the displaced fluid “
- This principle, also known as the law of hydraulics, applies to both floating and
submerged bodies, and to all fluids.
- Consider the body shown in Figure immersed in a fluid of a unif weight% The
horizontal components of the force acting on the body are all in equilibrium, since the
vertical projection of the body in opposite sides is the [Link] upper face of the body
is subject to a vertical downward force which is equal to the weight of the fluid above it,
and the lower face is subject to an upward force equal to the weight of real or imaginary
liquid above it. The net upward force acting on the body is the buoyant force.
LA CONCEPCION COLLEGE
FLUID MECHANICS & HYDRAULICS
BUOYANCY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. RUSSELL R. LLAGAS, RCE
PROBLEM 1
- An iceberg having specific gravity of 0.92 is floating on salt water of sp. gr. 1.03. If the
volume of ice above the water surface is 1000 cu. m, what is the total volume of the ice?
PROBLEM 2
- A block of wood 0.60m × 0.60m × h meters in dimension was thrown into the water
and floats with 0.18m projecting above the water surface. The same block was thrown
into a container of a liquid having a specific gravity of 0.90 and floats with 0.14m
projecting above the surface. Determine the following:
a. the value of h
b. the specific gravity of block
c. the weight of the block
PROBLEM 3
- A stone weighs 460N in air. when submerged in water it weighs 300N. Find the volume
and specific gravity of the stone.
PROBLEM 4
- A block of wood 0.20m thick is floating in sea water. The specific gravity of wood is
0.65 while that of seawater is 1.03. Find the minimum area of a block which will support
a man weighing 80kg.
PROBLEM 5
- A cube of wood ( s.g. = 0.60 ) has 9-in sides. Compute the magnitude and direction of
the force required to hold the wood completely submerged in water.
LA CONCEPCION COLLEGE
FLUID MECHANICS & HYDRAULICS
BUOYANCY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. RUSSELL R. LLAGAS, RCE
PROBLEM 6
- If a 5kg steel plate is attached to one end of a 0.1m × 0.3m × 120m wooden pole, what
is the length of the pole above water? use s. g. of wood of 0.50 Neglect buoyant force
on steel.
Ans: h = 0.43m
PROBLEM 7
- A hollow cylinder 1m in diameter and 2m high weighs 3825N.
How many kN of lead weighing 110kM/ m³ must be fastened to the outside bottom of
the cylinder to make it float with 1.5 submerged in water.
How many kM of lead if it is placed inside the cylinder.
Ans: a. = 8.49kN
b. = 7.735kN
PROBLEM 8
- From the figure below, it is shown that the gate is 1.0m wide and is hinged at the
bottom of the gate. Compute the following:
a. the hydraulics force in kN acting on the gate.
b. the location of the center pressure of the gate from the hinge
c. the minimum volume of concrete ( unit weight= 23.6 kN/m³ ) needed to keep the gate
in closed position.
Ans: a. = 0.667m
b. = 5.232kN
c. = 0.3796m³
LA CONCEPCION COLLEGE
FLUID MECHANICS & HYDRAULICS
BUOYANCY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. RUSSELL R. LLAGAS, RCE
PROBLEM 9
- A ship is having a displacement of 24,000tons and a draft of 34 feet in ocean enters a
harbor of fresh water. If the horizontal section of the ship at the waterline is 32,000 sq. ft,
what depth of fresh water is required to float the ship? Assume that marine tom is
2,240lb and that sea water and fresh water weight 64pcf and 62.2pcf, respectively.
Ans: D= 34.76ft
PROBLEM 10
- To what depth will a 2m diameter log, 4m long and of sp. ge. 0.425 sink in fresh water.
Ans: h = 0.882m
