Stable equilibrium for a vessel means that...

Stable equilibrium for a vessel means that...

Question 1 of 2707066636eec28f7522a1c51cd87

Stable equilibrium for a vessel means that the metacenter is at which location?

Question 1 of 27070

Q

Stable equilibrium for a vessel means that the metacenter is at which location?

🔍 Key Concepts

• Metacenter (M) vs center of gravity (G) and center of buoyancy (B) • What happens to a vessel when it is heeled slightly and then released (stability behavior) • Difference between stable, neutral, and unstable equilibrium positions

💭 Think About

• Think about what must be true so that when the ship is heeled a small angle, a righting moment pushes it back upright instead of letting it stay heeled or heel further. • Which relative vertical positions of metacenter and center of gravity produce a righting lever (GZ) that tends to return the vessel to its original upright position? • Look at each option and ask: does this describe a vertical relationship between metacenter and center of gravity, or is it saying something about fore‑and‑aft or side‑to‑side location?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear that stable equilibrium is about how the ship reacts when disturbed, not about where it sits relative to the baseline or fore‑and‑aft position. • Identify which answer choice actually compares the metacenter to the center of gravity, since that relationship governs initial stability. • Recall: in unstable equilibrium, the center of gravity is above the metacenter; in neutral equilibrium, they are at the same level. Use that to deduce what must be true for stable equilibrium.