What is Metacentric height a measure of?

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🔍 Key Concepts

• Metacenter (M), center of gravity (G), and how the distance GM affects a vessel’s tendency to return to upright after a small heel • Difference between initial stability (small angles of heel) and stability at large angles • What the righting arm (GZ) curve represents and how it changes with angle of heel

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: when a ship is heeled just a few degrees, which single distance is commonly used to describe how ‘stiff’ or ‘tender’ she feels? • Think about whether metacentric height stays valid at very large angles of heel, or mainly near the upright position. • Consider: does metacentric height directly tell you where G is above the keel, or is it a distance measured between two other specific points?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the definition of GM (metacentric height): it is the distance between G (center of gravity) and M (metacenter), not between G and the keel. • Recall that initial stability refers to behavior at small angles of heel; verify whether GM is tied mainly to that range or to all angles. • Confirm that maximum righting arm and full stability range are usually taken from the complete GZ curve, not just from the single value GM.

🔍 Key Concepts

💭 Think About

✅ Before You Answer