Class 4 (4th Engineer) SC&S 📅 Jan 2025

Exam Question

(a) Explains why the draught of a ship decreases when it passes from fresh water to seawater and vice versa. (6)

(b) A bulkhead 9 m deep is supported by vertical stiffeners 750 mm apart. The bulkhead is plated to the top edge with sea water on one side only. Calculate: (10)

(a) Shearing force at top

(b) Shearing force at bottom

Reference Answer

### Part (a): Draught Change with Water Density (6 Marks)
This phenomenon is governed by Archimedes' Principle, which states that the buoyant force acting on a submerged or floating body is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body.
1. **Principle of Flotation**: For a ship to float in equilibrium, its total weight (Displacement, Δ) must be exactly balanced by the upward buoyant force (FB).
$$ \Delta = F_B $$

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