Ballast
/ˈbæl.əst/
Ballast is a heavy material added to boats or ships to help them stay steady and balanced in the water, similar to how adding weight to the bottom of a tall tower makes it less likely to tip over.
Examples
- When sailing on a boat, the captain carefully adjusts the ballast to ensure the vessel remains stable and doesn't tip over in rough waters.
- During our science class, we learned that engineers use ballast in trains to help keep the tracks level and prevent derailments when heavy freight cars pass by.
- In order to build a sturdy sandcastle at the beach, we decided to use wet sand as ballast, packing it tightly to keep the structure from collapsing under the weight of the waves.
Synonyms
weight
load
stabilizer
counterweight
support
Antonyms
lightness
instability
imbalance
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