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Glite Dictionary
centre of flotation

centre of flotation

9.2
The point on a floating object where the water's upward push acts
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛn.tər əv floʊˈteɪ.ʃən/
  • UK
translation icon : centro de flotación
  • A vessel's balance depends heavily on the location of its centre of flotation.

Examples

  • The centre of flotation moves as the ship's displacement changes.

  • Engineers calculated the centre of flotation to optimize the ship's stability.

  • The centre of flotation is crucial for ship stability.

  • Understanding the center of flotation helps in boat design.

  • Engineers calculated the centre of flotation to optimize the ship's stability during testing.

  • The position of the centre of flotation is essential for ensuring that boats remain upright in the water.

  • A vessel's balance relies on the accurate determination of its centre of flotation for safe navigation.

Synonyms

center of buoyancy
vscentre of flotation
  • Specialized
7.4

The point in a floating object where the water pushes up on the part under water

describes the same point but as the displaced water's gravity center

Surface Forms

centre of flotation singular
center of flotation singular

Morphology

center + of + flotation

The phrase is compositionally built from 'centre' (middle point) and 'flotation' (ability to remain afloat), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to the central point related to floating—i.e. where buoyant forces act. It follows the common 'centre of X' noun pattern (cross-linguistically frequent), so despite some domain-specific technicality the meaning is predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Centre of flotation comes from imagining a boat on water: the water's lift pushes up at one small spot, the centre of the boat's flotation. So the picture helps explain why the term means 'the point where the water's lift acts and which controls a boat's balance'.