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How can you tell if an object is in equilibrium?
3 years ago
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Eda Kuhn
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1 Answer
Definition: An object is in equilibrium if the acceleration of its centre of mass is zero in all directions and its angular acceleration is zero.
In simpler terms:
If the object is not accelerating, it must either be at rest or moving with a constant velocity, as F = ma (force = mass x acceleration). If there is no acceleration then there will not be a 'resultant force' acting on the object.
In a linear sense, a zero resultant force means that the forces are balance in all directions.
In a rotational sense, it means that the total torque about any axis is zero.
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