Which consequence arises when insufficient ballast is loaded in an 18th-century ship’s hull?

💡 Explanation

Reduced metacentric height—or the point of rotational stability—leads to ship capsizing, caused by insufficient ballast providing counter-force when the ship tilts. This instability occurs because center-of-gravity location affects ships; lighter load raises the center; the risk, therefore, increases rather than decreasing with sufficient loading causing less capsize risk.

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