metacenter
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met·a·cen·ter
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| metacenter |
upward thrust of buoyancy ( ) and downward thrust of gravity ( ) allow a stable ship to right itself when heeledwith a metacenter ( ) below gravity, forces of gravity and buoyancy are further apart and will cause an unstable ship to capsize when heeled (Precision Graphics) |
n.
The intersection of vertical lines through the center of buoyancy of a floating body when it is at equilibrium and when it is floating at an angle. The location of the metacenter is an indication of the stability of a floating body.
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metacenter
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categories related to 'metacenter'
- Fixed Positions and Points - metacenter: intersection of lines through centers of buoyancy of a floating body at rest and when tipped to one side
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American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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