The greatest effect on stability occurs from...

🔍 Key Concepts

• Free surface effect and how moving liquid in a tank changes a vessel’s metacentric height (GM) • Difference between liquids moving transversely (side to side) vs longitudinally (fore and aft) • How liquids moving in and out through hull damage affect stability compared with liquids moving inside intact tanks

💭 Think About

• Think about which direction of liquid movement most directly reduces the vessel’s ability to resist rolling (side-to-side motion). • Compare the effect of liquid shifting inside a tank versus seawater moving in and out through a damaged part of the hull—does external flooding cause the same type of free surface effect? • Ask yourself: which option produces the largest and quickest reduction in effective GM when the vessel is rolling?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which options describe transverse movement of liquid vs longitudinal movement. • Recall that the most dangerous free surface effect is associated with transverse free surface, not longitudinal trim changes. • Distinguish between flooding/free communication with the sea and internal free surface in intact tanks, and consider which causes the greatest loss of stability during rolling.

The greatest effect on stability occurs from loose liquids flowing __________.

from side to side in the tanks of the vessel

from fore to aft in the tanks of a vessel

in and out of a vessel that is holed in a peak tank

in and out of a vessel that is holed in a wing tank

🔍 Key Concepts

💭 Think About

✅ Before You Answer