metacentre
定傾中心
Met·a·cen·ter or Met·a·cen·tre, n. Hydrostatics The point of intersection of a vertical line through the center of gravity of the fluid displaced by a floating body which is tipped through a small angle from its position of equilibrium, and the inclined line which was vertical through the center of gravity of the body when in equilibrium.
Note: ☞ When the metacenter is above the center of gravity, the position of the body is stable; when below it, unstable.
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metacentre
n : (shipbuilding) the point of intersection between two
vertical lines, one line through the center of buoyancy
of the hull of a ship in equilibrium and the other line
through the center of buoyancy of the hull when the ship
is inclined to one side; the distance of this
intersection above the center of gravity is an indication
of the stability of the ship [syn: metacenter]