He stable and unstable equilibrium , along with the indifferent balance, are a fundamental part of the characteristics of balance in physical . Unlike what many believe, balance is not just the absence of change in a body.
There are different types of equilibria and each one represents the definition of a specific movement under the effects of gravity and other factors.
All these types represent the way in which a body is maintained or not in a specific space and explain the difference between, for example, the displacement of a pendulum, a rod and a wheel.
One of them will return to its initial position, while the other will remain in the final position of the same, and the last will remain stable without undergoing any change.
What is the balance?
To begin, it is necessary to know what balance is. L a word balance comes from Latin aequilibrĭum. This word is divided into"aequus"which represents equality and"libra"which represents a balance. Therefore, it is for this reason that the word balance represents a sense of stability and counterbalance.
In physics, balance represents the state of a body at rest where the sum of all its forces counteract each other.
Given that equilibrium offers us a sense of stability, it is common to think that there is only one way to define it, but we could not be more wrong.
This phenomenon can occur both in a static body, one that is not subject to change, and a body in motion. This last example of equilibrium can be generated in 3 types: stable, unstable and indifferent.
Stable balance
The balance of a body is stable when it is removed from its initial position, returns to it by the effect of gravity exerted on the body.
A clear example of this type of equilibrium would be an object such as the pendulum, which despite being removed from its position, returns by itself to its starting place.
We can also take for example a book at a table; when lifting and releasing it, it will fall back to its initial position.
Unstable equilibrium
The unstable balance of a body occurs when said body, being removed from its initial position, is kept away from it by the effect of gravity. This happens because the center of gravity is higher than the point of suspension.
This type of balance can be seen when we put a pencil standing on the tip and drop it will fall on the table. Said object will not return to its initial position. We can also see it with a cane, which when dropped, will fall to the floor without going back up.
Indifferent balance
The indifferent equilibrium exists when, in spite of the fact that a body is moved, it remains in equilibrium in any position.
This happens because its center of gravity is mid-body with respect to the suspension center. A clear example of this type of balance would be a wheel on its axis.
References
- Stable and Unstable Equilibrium . Retrieved on December 7, 2017, from Owlcation: owlcation.com.
- Stable Equilibrium . Retrieved on December 7, 2017, from Merriam Webster merriam-webster.com
- Stable Equilibrium Retrieved on December 8, 2017, from Encyclopædia Britannica: britannica.com.
- States of Equilibrium. Retrieved on December 8, 2017, from City Collegiate: citycollegiate.com
- Unstable Equilibrium . Retrieved on December 7, 2017, from The Free Dictionary: merriam-webster.com
- Unstable Equilibrium . Retrieved on December 8, 2017, from Edu Media: edumedia-sciences.com