| 释义 |
metacentre|ˈmɛtəsɛntə(r)|
[ad. F. métacentre (Bouguer 1746), f. méta- meta- + centre centre.]
1. Hydrostatics (and Shipbuilding). The limiting position of the point of intersection between the vertical line passing through the centre of gravity of a floating body when in equilibrium and the vertical line drawn through the centre of buoyancy when the body is slightly displaced; the shifting centre. To ensure stable equilibrium this point must be above the centre of gravity.
1794Rigging & Seamanship II. 283 The metacenter..has been likewise called the shifting center. 1873J. Peake Nav. Archit. (ed. 3) 47 The Height of the Metacentre above the Centre of Gravity of displacement.
2. Biol. (See quot.)
1902Mitchell in Encycl. Brit. XXVIII. 343/2 A new centre of modification..a metacentre. |