[ RadSafe ] Airplanes, cosmic rays, DU, tritium and similar absurdities

[Ruth Sponsler]

I think that the term "counterweight" refers to the
use of DU, lead, or other dense substance to balance
out the mass of the wings, when one is slightly less
heavy than the other owing to factors like
construction, ailerons, etc.  

I'm no expert on aircraft or boats, but the port and
starboard sides of the craft need to be precisely
balanced.  

I've actually ridden on a friends' pleasure boat,
where port and starboard *weren't* matched well
because the trim tabs needed a good adjustment.  When
we went over a wave, it was a wild ride!

~Ruth

--- Otto Raabe <ograabe at ucdavis.edu> wrote:

> At 06:38 AM 12/19/2006, Ellars, Charles wrote:
> >I raise my hand as saying the word "ballast"
> instead of "counterweight" ....
> **************************************************
> According to my American Heritage Dictionary:
> 
> ballast: (n) 1. Any heavy material placed in the
> hold of a ship or the 
> gondola of a balloon to enhance stability. 2. That
> which gives stability.
> 
> To me, ballast seems to be the correct term if the
> purpose is stability in 
> an aircraft.
> 
> **************************
> counterweight (n) 1. A weight used as a counter
> balance.
> 
> To me this is a balance between two forces as over a
> pulley. It does not 
> seem to exactly apply to ships, balloons, or
> aircraft.
> 
> Otto
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> **********************************************
> Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
> Center for Health & the Environment
> University of California
> One Shields Avenue
> Davis, CA 95616
> E-Mail: ograabe at ucdavis.edu
> Phone: (530) 752-7754   FAX: (530) 758-6140
> *********************************************** 
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