🔍 Key Concepts

• metacenter (M) and center of gravity (G) and how the distance between them affects stability • difference between initial stability at small angles of heel and overall stability at large angles • how the righting arm (GZ) curve relates to GM but is not the same thing

💭 Think About

• Think about what happens to a vessel when it first heels just a few degrees—what specific stability characteristic is being described there? • Ask yourself whether one single value (GM) can fully describe stability at all angles of heel, or if it mainly reflects behavior near the upright position. • Consider how the maximum righting arm is found—does it usually come from a full GZ curve or from one simple distance like GM?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify whether metacentric height (GM) is defined at very small angles of heel or over the vessel’s entire range of stability. • Check if maximum righting arm is a single angle-dependent point on a curve, or a basic geometric distance like GM. • Confirm whether a single measure can realistically describe stability through all angles, or if that requires a full stability curve.