The purpose of the inclining experiment is to determine what aspect of the vessel?

The inclining experiment is primarily conducted to accurately determine the vertical center of gravity (KG) of a vessel. This experiment involves the application of known weights to the vessel to create an inclination and then measuring the angle of heel. By using the measurements taken during the experiment, the vertical position of the center of gravity can be calculated.

Knowing the KG is critical for stability calculations, as it plays a significant role in determining the vessel's overall stability characteristics, including the ability to right itself after being heeled over. A properly determined KG helps ensure that the vessel operates effectively within its designed stability limits.

While the other options are related to vessel stability, they serve different roles. The center of buoyancy relates to the equilibrium of the vessel when floating, displacement refers to the weight of the water displaced by the vessel (which relates to buoyancy), and righting arm is a measure of the vessel's ability to return to upright after being heeled. However, the inclining experiment's primary focus is on accurately determining KG.