Final answer:
The boat's capacity plate indicates the maximum weight that the boat can safely carry. It is informed by the buoyant force, which is ten times the weight of the steel in this case, allowing the boat to carry a load up to nine times its own weight without danger of sinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
The boat's capacity plate provides crucial information regarding the vessel's limitations and safety parameters. This plate tells you the maximum weight the boat can safely carry without risking capsizing or sinking. According to the information provided, the maximum buoyant force is ten times the weight of the steel, meaning that the steel boat can theoretically carry a load nine times its own weight without the danger of sinking. This is because the buoyant force, which is based on the displacement of water, must be greater than the weight of the boat plus its load to prevent it from sinking.
Essentially, the capacity plate information is a reflection of the principles of buoyancy and Archimedes' Principle, which states that the upward buoyant force exerted on a body immersed in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid that the body displaces. In this example, the maximum volume of water that the steel boat can displace creates a buoyant force large enough to support the weight of the boat plus an additional load up to nine times its weight. This kind of information is critical for safe boat operation.