Photo Source:
http://www.sailtrain.co.uk/stability/vanishing_stability.htm
Capsizing
occurs when a boat continues to heel (to lean) over to the
side until it has reached the "angle of vanishing stability"
(sailtrain.co.uk). Before this point, the buoyancy and
gravitational forces create a inertia called the righting or
restoring moment (RM). The RM will maintain stability unless
the sailboat reaches the angle of vanishing stability.
The angle of vanishing stability is considered where the net
torque is in equilibrium. Anymore wind torque to cause
the boat past this angle will result in a capsize (Kimball
83).
T[net]=T[wind]+T[buoyancy]=0
-T[wind]=T[buoyancy]
where T is determined from the distribution of mass in
relation to center of mass, angular acceleration, and
force from wind/buoyancy.
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