🔍 Key Concepts

• Metacenter (M) vs center of gravity (G) and what metacentric height (GM) represents • The formula for metacentric height (GM) in basic stability: GM = distance between G and M • What happens to a vessel’s initial stability when G and M are at the same point

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: How is metacentric height (GM) defined in relation to the positions of G and M? Is it a distance, an angle, or something else? • If the center of gravity and the metacenter are at exactly the same height, what is the vertical distance between them? • Think about whether GM depends on the absolute height of G or M above the keel, or only on the distance between them.

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear that GM is the distance between the center of gravity (G) and metacenter (M), not their individual heights above the keel. • Visualize or sketch G and M on a vertical line and mark the distance between them when they are at the same level. • Confirm which choice describes a numerical value of that distance when two points coincide.