
100      3 Fluid Static and Interfaces 
adxx
a
d
x
VV
xzdx
x
a
a
C
4
31
0
2
2
1
0
 
¸
¹
·
¨
©
§
  
³
³
 
(14)
and 
1
2
1
3
1
0
2
3
2
2
1
3
1
1
d
d
d
Sz
dzz
z
zyG
d
C
   
³
 
(15) 
Consequently, the horizontal forces of 
x
F  are all the same in any wall 
shape, so that the overall force F, the action angle 
D
 and  the  center  of 
pressure 
C
x  are determined by 
z
F , which is similarly the volume of liquid 
contained vertically on the surface of the walls. 
In obtaining forces and the center of pressure for a required geometry, 
one must not be too anxious about the centroid and the moment of inertia 
or the product of inertia, but simply carry on the integration for Eqs. (4), 
(5), (7) and (8) to get the results for the required geometry. 
Exercise 3.5 Stability of Floating Objects 
Discuss the criteria of stable floatation for a cylindrical object with a slid-
ing weight inside, if the body is tilted slightly in the horizontal direction as 
shown in Fig. 3.13 (a).  Consider the following: (i) when the weight is at 
the bottom; and (ii) when the weight is slid forward to the top of the cylin-
der. Let 
W  be the representative weight of the floating object, and let 
 
be the diameter of the cylinder. Use 
1
 as the tilt angle and 
 as 
the density of the liquid. 
Ans. 
We first consider that the floating object is in equilibrium vertically be-
fore tilting, so that the floating object is vertically stable and  FW   , 
where 
 is the buoyant force acting at C  and W  is the total weight rep-
resented by the weight at the center of gravity 
G
. Let 
l
 be the length of 
the cylinder of the submerged portion, and let 
a  be the distance of G  
from the liquid level as shown in Fig. 3.13(a). 
With a small tilt angle 
, the equilibrium may be stable or unstable, 
depending upon the resultant body couple due to tilting. If the body couple