What does it mean when a vessel is described as 'stiff'?

What does it mean when a vessel is described as 'stiff'?

• A. When a stable ship has a fast snappy roll
• B. When the ship does not roll at all
• C. When the ship sinks slowly
• D. When the ship has a gentle, slow roll

Answer: (A)

Stiff describes how a vessel responds to being heeled by waves. When a ship is stiff, the restoring force trying to bring it back upright is strong, so once it starts to roll, the motion is quick and sharp rather than slow and gentle. This creates a fast, snappy roll with a short rocking period, even though the ship remains stable and upright overall. The underlying idea is stability translates into a quicker, more abrupt rocking response, not a lack of motion, not sinking, and not a slow, easy roll.

Stiff describes how a vessel responds to being heeled by waves. When a ship is stiff, the restoring force trying to bring it back upright is strong, so once it starts to roll, the motion is quick and sharp rather than slow and gentle. This creates a fast, snappy roll with a short rocking period, even though the ship remains stable and upright overall. The underlying idea is stability translates into a quicker, more abrupt rocking response, not a lack of motion, not sinking, and not a slow, easy roll.