static stability
Quick Summary
Static stability in nautical science refers to a body's degree of stable equilibrium, measured by the torque needed to cause a specific deflection. For a floating ship, this means that the weight of the ship must equal the weight of the water it displaces, according to Archimedes' principle.1
If weights on a ship are not precisely distributed, it can lead to unwanted angles of heel (sideways inclination) or trim (endwise inclination). These inclinations can be dangerous, reducing a ship's margin against capsizing. To maintain stability, the first moment of all weights must equal the first weight moment of the displaced water.1
A key concept is the metacentric height, which indicates stability for small disturbances. For larger angles, the "righting arm" is used to measure stability, showing the angle beyond which a ship cannot return to upright and where the restoring moment is greatest.1
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