What is the term for a ship moving forwards and backwards?

The term for a ship moving forwards and backwards is pitch. Pitch refers to the up-and-down movement of a ship's bow and stern, which can occur as it navigates through waves or changes in the center of gravity. This motion is critical in understanding how a ship behaves in water, influencing its stability and navigational performance.

In contrast, roll describes the sideways tilting motion of a vessel, which can affect its balance but does not characterize movement in the forward and backward direction. List refers to a ship tilting to one side due to an imbalance in weight distribution, and trim specifically relates to the balance of the ship in relation to its bow and stern positions but does not encompass the forward and backward movement like pitch does. Understanding these terms is essential for comprehending ship dynamics and engineering design considerations.