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Archimedes' Principle:
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Vessel displacement refers to the weight of water displaced by a vessel when it is floating, based on Archimedes' principle. It represents the actual weight of the vessel including its cargo, fuel, and all other contents.
The calculator uses Archimedes' principle formula:
Where:
Explanation: According to Archimedes' principle, the buoyant force on an object equals the weight of the fluid it displaces. For a floating vessel, this equals the total weight of the vessel.
Details: Accurate displacement calculation is crucial for ship design, stability analysis, load planning, regulatory compliance, and ensuring safe navigation under various loading conditions.
Tips: Enter volume in cubic meters and density in kilograms per cubic meter. For seawater, typical density is 1025 kg/m³. For freshwater, use 1000 kg/m³.
Q1: What is the difference between displacement and deadweight?
A: Displacement is the total weight of the vessel including everything on board, while deadweight is the weight of cargo, fuel, and stores the vessel can carry.
Q2: How is volume typically measured for vessels?
A: Volume is calculated from the vessel's hull dimensions and shape, often using computational methods or displacement curves provided by naval architects.
Q3: Why does density vary for displacement calculations?
A: Water density changes with temperature and salinity. Seawater is denser than freshwater, affecting the displacement calculation for the same volume.
Q4: What are typical displacement values for different vessels?
A: Small boats may displace a few tons, while large container ships can displace over 200,000 tons when fully loaded.
Q5: How is displacement used in ship stability?
A: Displacement determines the center of buoyancy, which must align properly with the center of gravity to maintain vessel stability and prevent capsizing.