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GATE 2016 ME (ME1) – Question 24

Fluid Mechanics · Fluid properties, fluid statics, forces on submerged bodies, stability of floating bodies · 1 mark · Multiple choice

For a floating body, buoyant force acts at the

  1. centroid of the floating body
  2. center of gravity of the body
  3. centroid of the fluid vertically below the body
  4. centroid of the displaced fluid

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (D) centroid of the displaced fluid

Explanation

Buoyancy is the resultant of hydrostatic pressure over the submerged surface. It equals the weight of displaced fluid and passes through that displaced volume’s centroid, the centre of buoyancy. Therefore **centroid of displaced fluid, D**. This point need not coincide with the body’s centre of gravity.