NDA General Ability Question (2026) — Solution

Step-by-step solution

For a floating body, the condition for equilibrium and stability depends on the relative positions of its centre of gravity and its metacentre. When a floating body is given a small angular displacement, its centre of buoyancy shifts. The point where the vertical line passing through the new centre of buoyancy intersects the original vertical axis is known as the metacentre. For the body to be in a stable state, a restoring couple must act on it to bring it back to its original vertical position. This restoring couple is only produced if the metacentre lies above the centre of gravity. Thus, for stable equilibrium of a floating body, its centre of gravity must be below the metacentre.