Ballast

Ballast is the heavy material that are placed low in a vessel to improve its stability, such as sand, iron, gravel, lead etc. Ballast is also carried in an airship or on a hot-air balloon to stabilize them. When required, the heavy materials are jettisoned to save the ship from drowning or aircraft to achieve greater altitudes. The gravel or the stone forming the bed of a road or railroad track is also called ballast, and also the mixture for making concrete. In electricity, it is a passive component in a circuit to moderate the current.

Nearby pages
Ballater, Ballcarrier, Baller, Ballerina, Ballet master, Ballet shoe