🔍 Key Concepts

• Riser tension effect on the unit’s vertical center of gravity (KG) • How increasing upward pull changes stability parameters: GM (metacentric height) and KM (height of metacenter above keel) • Relationship between mass distribution vs. geometric properties of the hull when external tension is applied

💭 Think About

• Does pulling upward on the unit with higher riser tension move the overall center of gravity up or down? How would that affect KG? • Which terms (KG, KM, GM) are related to the weight distribution, and which are mainly determined by the hull geometry and waterplane? • If KG changes but KM does not, what happens to GM (remember GM = KM − KG)?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the definition and physical meaning of KG, KM, and GM before deciding • Think about whether riser tension acts like removing weight from low down or adding weight higher up in the structure • Verify which of the options is a geometric property of the floating body and which are affected by vertical weight shift