🔍 Key Concepts

• Free surface effect and how it is represented by a free surface constant (FSC) • Relationship between displacement, specific gravity (SG) of the surrounding water, and the vessel’s displacement volume • Correct units for free surface calculations and how tank dimensions affect FSC

💭 Think About

• How do you convert a vessel’s displacement in tons to a displacement volume in cubic feet, considering the specific gravity of the outside water? • How does the moment of inertia of the liquid surface in the tank (using its length and breadth) relate to the free surface constant? • Should the depth of the tank or the fact that it is half full directly affect the free surface constant, or only the free surface correction?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be sure you are using consistent units (feet, cubic feet, tons) throughout the calculation. • Verify whether the free surface constant depends on the area of the free surface only, or on the volume (and depth) of the liquid. • Double-check that you are using the vessel’s displacement in tons and converting correctly to the displacement volume using the given specific gravity of saltwater.